title: Increased expression of the sonic hedgehog and vascular endothelial growth factor with co-localization in varicocele veins.
abstract: Objectives Varicocele is characterized by dilatation and tortuosity of the internal spermatic vein. Sonic hedgehog plays an important role in angiogenesis and vascular remodeling under hypoxic stress. We studied the relationship and distribution of SHH and vascular endothelial growth factor in internal spermatic vein in patients diagnosed with varicocele. Methods Specimens of 1 cm were taken from the internal spermatic vein during left varicocele repair (N = 20). The control samples of ISV were obtained from eight male patients who underwent left inguinal herniorrhaphy. We analyzed the sonic hedgehog and vascular endothelial growth factor expression and distribution by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescent staining, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The data were analyzed using the Student's t test. Results Immunoblotting showed higher expression of sonic hedgehog and vascular endothelial growth factor proteins in varicocele veins than in the control group ( P < 0.05) which located over muscle layer and endothelium was demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining. Both proteins with co-localization in the muscle layer and especially distributed in endothelium of varicocele veins were revealed under confocal microscopy. Conclusions These findings showed the upexpression of sonic hedgehog and vascular endothelial growth factor with co-localization in varicocele veins which imply that the reducing hypoxia or using sonic hedgehog antagonists may be helpful for this vascular disease.
authors: 1 Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.|2 Center for General Education, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Shih-Ho
authors: SH
authors: Wang
authors: 3 Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Wen-Kai
authors: WK
authors: Yang
authors: 4 Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Taichung Armed Forces General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.|5 Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.|6 National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Jane-Dar
authors: JD
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014646:Varicocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C509239:SHH protein, human; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Sonic hedgehog; varicocele vein; vascular endothelial growth factor