[Effect of testicular autophagy on spermatogenic cells in varicocele rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of different levels of autophagy in the testis on the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in the rat model of varicocele (VC). METHODS: We randomly divided 54 SD male rats into six groups, blank control (n = 6), rapamycin control (n = 6), chloroquine control (n = 6), VC model control (n = 12), VC + rapamycin (n = 12), and VC + chloroquine (n = 12). We observed the histomorphological changes of the testis and epididymis by HE staining, obtained the scores on spermatogenesis in the testis and epididymis, calculated the apoptosis index (AI) of the testicular spermatogenic cells by TUNEL, and determined the expressions of LC3-Ⅱ, LC3-Ⅰ, p62, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in the testis tissue by Western blot. RESULTS: There were no significant morphological changes in the testis and epididymis of the rats in the blank control, rapamycin control and chloroquine control groups, or significant differences in the scores on testicular and epididymal spermatogenesis and AI of the testicular spermatogenic cells (P>0.05). The animals in the VC model control group exhibited significant pathological damage in the testicular and epididymal tissues, with remarkably decreased scores on spermatogenesis (P<0.01) and increased AI (P<0.01), which were markedly improved in the VC + rapamycin group and slightly aggravated in the VC + chloroquine group compared with the VC model controls. In comparison with the rats in the blank control group, those in the VC model control group showed significantly up-regulated expressions of the autophagy-related protein LC3 (including the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio) and the pro-apoptotic protein Bax in testicular tissue (P<0.01) but down-regulated expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 (P<0.01). The expressions of LC3 and Bcl-2 in the testis tissue were significantly higher in the VC + rapamycin (P<0.01) but lower in the VC + chloroquine group (P<0.01), while those of p62 and Bax remarkably lower in the VC + rapamycin (P<0.01) but higher in the VC + chloroquine group than in the VC model controls (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Varicocele induces autophagy in the testis and apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rats. Up-regulating autophagy can inhibit while blocking autophagy can promote the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells.

Exploring oncogenes for renal clear cell carcinoma based on G protein-coupled receptor-associated genes.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a class of receptors on cell membranes that regulate various biological processes in cells, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, apoptosis, and metabolism, by interacting with G proteins. However, the role of G protein-coupled receptors in predicting the prognosis of renal clear cell carcinoma is still unknown. The transcriptome data and clinical profiles of renal clear cell carcinoma patients, were downloaded from TCGA databases, and the validation group data were downloaded from number GSE167573, including 63 tumor samples and 14 normal samples. Single-cell RNA sequencing data were downloaded from the GEO database, No. GSE152938 and selected samples were used for GSEA enrichment analysis, WGCNA subgroup analysis, single-cell data analysis, and mutation analysis to explore the role of G protein-coupled receptor-related genes in the diagnosis and prognosis of renal clear cell carcinoma and to verify their reliability with cellular experiments. Finally, this study establishes a disease model based on G protein-coupled receptor-related genes, which may help to propose targeted therapeutic regimens in different strata of renal cell carcinoma patients.Author names: Please confirm if the author names are presented accurately and in the correct sequence (given name, middle name/initial, family name). Author: Given name [Lisa Jia] Last name [Tran].It's ok!