Meiosis related gene expression in rat spermatogenesis / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find the expression of specific genes related to the meiosis of germ cells during spermatogenesis in the rat testis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Segments of seminiferous tubules were obtained from the adult male SD rats, at stages XIII - I of meiosis, and the interstitial cells of the same testis were isolated under the stereomicroscope. The total RNAs of stages XIII - I segments and the testicular interstitial cells were extracted respectively, and mRNA differential display RT-PCR (DDRT-PCR) was conducted. The obtained cDNA fractions were purified and recovered, the reverse dot blot hybridization, sub-clones and screens of blue/white dots performed, and the results of sub-clones were identified by restriction endonuclease EcoR I digestion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixteen differential cDNA fractions were obtained through primary DDRT-PCR, 7 from stages XIII - I segments and 9 from the testicular interstitial cells. Another 11 were selected for further screening by reverse dot blot hybridization, their size ranging from 200 to 500 bp, of which 6 were from the stages XIII - I segments of seminiferous tubules and the other 5 from the rat testicular interstitial cells. All of the 11 cDNA fractions were sub-cloned and screened by blue/white dots.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Specifically expressed differential cDNA fractions can be obtained and primarily identified from testicular interstitial cells and the seminiferous tubules, which, as the sequence tags of the testicular meiotic expression, deserve further investigation.</p>

Specific expression of beta-actin during spermatogenesis in rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen the stage-specific expression proteins during rats spermatogenesis, and to investigate the beta-actin expression and localization in the tissues of rat testicular.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Highly enriched type A spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids were isolated by STAPUT method (sedimentation velocity at unit gravity, with 2% - 4% BSA gradient in DMEM/F12 medium) respectively to get the total proteins. The difference of protein expression between the three kinds of cells was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Then the distribution of beta-actin in rat testicular tissues was investigated using specific anti-beta-actin antibodies by immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>beta-actin was identified as a stage-specific expression protein by two-dimensional electrophoresis. beta-actin protein was more strongly expressed in type A spermatogonia and pachytene spermatocytes, but not in round spermatids. The immunohistochemical results showed that beta-actin was mainly located in the cytoplasm of type A spermatogonia and pachytene spermatocytes and in the nuclei of nearly mature spermatids.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>beta-actin protein is a stage-specific expressed protein and may play an important role in spermatogenesis.</p>

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>