精索静脉曲张大鼠生精细胞凋亡与caspase-3蛋白的表达

目的:探讨caspase-3在精索静脉曲张大鼠生精细胞中的表达及其与生精细胞凋亡的关系。方法:雄性SD大鼠24只,随机分为假手术组(SOG)、30 d术后组(PG1)、60 d术后组(PG2),每组8只。建立左精索静脉曲张模型,TUNEL法检测生精细胞凋亡,免疫组化SABC法检测caspase-3表达。结果:SOG、PG1、PG2大鼠左、右侧睾丸每生精小管截面caspase-3阳性细胞数分别为0.117 5±0.012 9、0.246 3±0.042 1、0.293 8±0.051 1及0.165 0±0.019 2、0.253 8±0.021 9、0.277 5±0.034 3。与SOG相比,PG1和PG2组大鼠双侧睾丸生精细胞caspase-3表达均增加,差异有显著性(P=0.011 5及P=0.014 4)。结论:精索静脉曲张可能是大鼠生精细胞caspase-3表达增加且生精细胞凋亡增多的机制之一。

Apoptosis and Expression of Caspase-3 Protein in Germ Cells of Varicocele Rats

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the expression of caspase-3 in testicular germ cells of rats with experimental left varicocele (ELV) and apoptosis of germ cells. METHODS: Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups with eight animals each: sham-operation group (SOG), 30-day post-operation group (PG1) and 60-day psot-operation group (PG2). ELV model was established by the partial ligation of the left renal vein. To detect apoptosis of germ cells and expression of caspase-3, TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry (SABC) were used respectively. RESULTS: The number of caspase-3 positive germ cells per tubular cross section in left and right testes of rats in SOG, PG1, PG2 were 0.1175 +/- 0.0129, 0.2463 +/- 0.0421, 0.2938 +/- 0.0511 and 0.1650 +/- 0.0192, 0.2538 +/- 0.0219, 0.2775 +/- 0.0343, respectively. Compared with SOG, the expression of caspase-3 in bilateral testes of rats in PG1 and PG2 were increased, and the differences were statistically significant(P = 0.0115 and P = 0.0144). CONCLUSION: Expression of caspase-3 protein increased in germ cells of rats with ELV, which may be one of the molecular mechanisms related to excessive testicular germ cell apoptosis.