New discovery of cryptorchidism: Decreased retinoic acid in testicle.
This study focuses on investigation of cryptorchidism induced by flutamide (Flu) and its histopathological damage, and detects retinoic acid concentration in testicle tissue, in order to find a new method for clinical treatment to infertility caused by cryptorchidism. Twenty SD (Sprague Dawley) pregnant rats were randomly divided into Flu cryptorchidism group (n = 10) and normal control group (n = 10). HE stained for observing morphological difference. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used for observing the tight junction structure between Sertoli cells. Epididymal caudal sperms were counted and observed in morphology. The expression of stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8) was detected using immunohistochemistry, western blot, and Q-PCR. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was made on retinoic acid content. Sperm count and morphology observation confirmed cryptorchidism group was lower than normal group in sperm quantity and quality. The observation by TEM showed a loose structure of tight junctions between Sertoli cells. Immunohistochemistry, western blot, and Q-PCR showed that cryptorchidism group was significantly lower than normal group in the expression of Stra8. HPLC showed that retinoic acid content was significantly lower in cryptorchid testis than in normal testis. In the cryptorchidism model, retinoic acid content in testicular tissue has a significant reduction; testicles have significant pathological changes; damage exists in the structure of tight junctions between Sertoli cells; Stra8 expression has a significant reduction, perhaps mainly contributing to spermatogenesis disorder.
Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Jinpu
J
Peng
Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Lianju
L
Shen
Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Jinjun
J
Chen
Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Xining
X
Cao
Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Yue
Y
Zhou
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Huali
H
Weng
Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Chunlan
C
Long
Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Deying
D
Zhang
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Shengfen
S
Tu
Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Yan
Y
Zhang
Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Dawei
D
He
Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Tao
T
Lin
Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China; Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China; Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing 400014, China.
Guanghui
G
Wei
Cryptorchidism; Flutamide; Pathological change; Rat; Retinoic acid; Testicle