Effect of experimental varicocele on structure and function of epididymis in adolescent rats / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the effect of experimental left varicocele (ELV) on epididymal structure and function in adolescent Sprague-Dawley rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>ELV was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein. Sham-operated animals served as the controls. Four and 8 weeks after the operation, the histological, ultrastructural and biochemical (alpha-glucosidase activity and carnitine content) changes in different segments of the epididymis were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the treated animals, there were degeneration of the epididymal epithelium and edema of the interstitial tissue; numerous shedding cells, residual bodies, deformed sperm and macrophages appeared in the epididymal lumen. Morphometric measurement indicated a significant reduction in the epididymal tubular diameter (P<0.05) and a significant increase in the epididymal interstitial area (P<0.05) compared with the controls. Ultrastructural study showed sparse microvilli of the columnar epithelium, increased and enlarged lysosomes in the principal cells with defected organelles and the presence of large cytoplasmic vacuoles. The protein and carnitine contents and the alpha-glucosidase activity in the caput, corpus and cauda epididymis of the ELV rats were lower than those of the controls (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There were structural and functional changes in the epididymis of adolescent ELV rats, which may contribute to the infertility caused by varicocele.</p>

Assessment of curative effect on erectile dysfunction of two drugs / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To further discuss the method of evaluating curative effect on erectile dysfunction(ED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical trials(Phase II) of sildenafil and phentolamine were both 8-week-long, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled. Not only the curative effect between each treatment group and placebo group but also between the treatment groups were compared. The dosage of sildenafil and phentolamine was respectively 50-100 mg and 40 mg.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Efficiency, success rate of sexual intercourse and general curative effect in sildenafil and phentolamine groups were respectively 79.17%, 75.00%, 83.33% and 52.38%, 85.71%, 52.38%. The result revealed a statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvement over placebo. But no obvious differences were shown between the two treatment groups(P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Most assessments of curative effect of ED drugs come from questionnaires answered subjectively by patients. The Lack of objective assessment criteria way lead to the non-conformity between trial results and clinical practices. So the curative effect of drugs shall be assessed more accurately and from more perspectives.</p>