ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of propranolol on sperms, histopathology of testes, andCatSper 2 gene and protein expression in adult mice.18 adult male mice were randomly divided into control, propranolol 1 (receiving 10 mg/kg dose) and propranolol 2 group (receiving 15 mg/kg dose for 35 days). The mean amount of sperm parameters in the propranolol 1 and propranolol 2 groups was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05). CatSper2 gene and protein expression have significantly decreased in propranolol 1 and propranolol 2 groups compared to the control group (P<0.05). Reduction of CatSper2 gene and protein expression in low dose of propranolol was more severe than high dose. In testicular tissues of the propranolol 1 group, vacuoles and necrosis in the germinal epithelium were observed, and in testicular tissues of propranolol 2 group decrease in the thickness of the germinal epithelium, some vacuoles and necrosis were observed in germinal epithelium as well as congestion in the interstitial space. The mean value of thiol and catalase enzyme in the propranolol 1 and propranolol 2 groups, and the mean value of superoxide dismutase in propranolol 1 group, were significantly different compared to the control group (P<0.05)
ABSTRACT
Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) cannot be sufficiently explained by the presence of traditional risk factors. Cathepsin D has been proposed to serve as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis but its alterations in CAD patients have not been studied. Objective To evaluate serum cathepsin D concentrations in relation to the presence and severity of CAD. Materials and methods A total of 104 subjects were recruited; 71 patients with suspected CAD and 33 healthy subjects. Thirty-four patients had >50% coronary stenosis of at least one artery (CAD+); the remaining 37 patients had <50% stenosis (CAD−) based on angiography. CAD+ patients were sub-divided into three sub-groups with single (SVD; n = 15), double (2VD; n = 9), and triple vessel (3VD; n = 10) disease. Serum soluble cathepsin D concentrations were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Serum cathepsin D concentrations were significantly higher in the CAD+ compared with healthy control (p = 0.016) but not CAD− group (p = 0.098). Within the CAD+ group, patients with 3VD had significantly higher serum cathepsin D concentrations compared with the SVD group (p = 0.025), and also compared with the CAD− (p = 0.011) and SVD (p = 0.001) groups. No significant associations were found between serum cathepsin D concentrations and potential confounders including age, sex, blood pressure, smoking history and dyslipidemia. Conclusion Serum cathepsin D concentrations may be associated with the presence of CAD.