title: Testicular biohistochemical alterations following experimental varicocele in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The exact pathophysiology of testicular degeneration, following varicocele has not been completely understood yet.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study was designed to determine the effect of varicocele on germinal epithelium (GE) cytoplasmic biohistochmical alterations.
  
  
  METHODS
  To follow-up this study, left varicocele was induced in test groups. Non-varicocelized rats were served as control-sham (n=6). Following 4, 6 and 8 months, right and left testes were dissected out and the blood serum sample was taken. The GE cytoplasmic carbohydrate, lipid accumulation, lipase and alkaline-phosphates (ALP) ratios were analyzed. Serum levels of LH, FSH and testosterone were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Observations demonstrated that in varicocele-induced rats, the spermatogenesis cell lineage exhibited lower number of cells with periodic acid shift positive cytoplasm, higher number of cells with lipid and ALP positive stained cytoplasm in comparison to control animals. Lipase enzyme decreased by the time in the test animals. In varicocelized groups the number of Leydig cells decreased in to 2.25±0.41 and 1.16±0.75 per one mm(2) in left and right testicles respectively after 8 months, and these cells demonstrated an ALP positive feature. In test groups, the serum levels of LH and FSH reduced into 1.12±0.01 and 2.03±0.05 ng/ml respectively after 8 months. Although testosterone level diminished by the time in the test animals, and this decreasing was significant (p=0.031) after 8 months (3.08±0.10 ng/ml).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that following varicocele induction major alterations occur in GE, which may lead to loss of GE cells physiological function and ultimately result in fertility problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Mazdak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Razi
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Rajab Ali
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sadrkhanloo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malekinejad
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Surgery Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Farshid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sarrafzadeh-Rezaei
keywords: Alkaline-phosphates; Cytoplasmic carbohydrate; Lipase; Lipid foci; Testis; Varicocele