Caspase-3 and VEGF immunopositivity in seminiferous tubule germ cells in cases of obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia in smokers versus non-smokers |
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Authors: | Sevtap Kilic Nese Lortlar Yesim Bardakci Erkan Ozdemir Beril Yuksel Ufuk Ozturk Gurer Budak Muammer Dogan |
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Institution: | (1) Dr. Zekai Tahir BURAK Women Health, Education and Research Hospital, Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF, Cebeci, Ankara, Turkey;(2) Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey;(3) Gazi University, NanoMedicine Research Laboratory, Golbasi, Ankara, Turkey;(4) Dr. Zekai Tahir BURAK Women Health, Education and Research Hospital, Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF, Laboratory of ART and Embryology, Cebeci, Ankara, Turkey;(5) Dr. Zekai Tahir BURAK Women Health, Education and Research Hospital, Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF and Urology, Cebeci, Ankara, Turkey;(6) Suleymanbey sk. 29/10, Maltepe, 06570 Ankara, Turkey |
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Abstract: | Purpose To investigate immunostaining pattern of caspase-3, an apoptosis marker, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an
hypoxia marker in testis biopsy specimens collected either from smoking or non-smoking patients with azoospermia.
Methods Testis biopsy specimens were obtained from thirty seven non-smoker and thirty eight smoker patients. Using immunochemistry
technique, caspase-3 and VEGF were evaluated in all intratubular spermatogenic and interstitial Leydig cells.
Result(s) Caspase-3 expression was significantly increased in germ cells in maturation arrest specimens in smoker azoospermic patients.
No statistically significant difference was present between smokers and non-smokers for caspase-3 expression in Sertoli cell.
However, the VEGF immunopositive Leydig cells were statistically higher in smokers. There were no differences between groups
in terms of germ cell immunopositivity.
Conclusion Our results support the hypothesis that increased apoptosis contributes significantly to impaired spermatogenesis. We conjecture
that germ cell apoptosis may be augmented by hypoxic microenvironments and environmental toxicants in smoking azoospermic
men.
Capsule
The evaluation of caspase-3 and VEGF immunopositivity in smoking patients with azoospermia |
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Keywords: | Azoospermia Caspase-3 Apoptosis VEGF Hypoxia |
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