Asymmetric dimethyl arginine levels in testicular tissue and blood of rats with induced experimental varicocele / Niveles de dimetilarginina asimétrica en la sangre y el tejido testicular de ratas con varicocele inducido

Introduction. Varicocele is one of the reasons for testicular dysfunction and is frequently known to accompany infertility. The basic pathology of varicocele is the development of endothelial dysfunction. The most important factors in development of endothelial dysfunction are impaired endothelial-linked vasodilatation, increase in free oxygen radicals, reduced synthesis and release of nitric oxide (NO), abnormal vasoconstriction and increased levels of dimethyl arginine. Our aim was to identify and illustrate the relationship between asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) and NO levels in testicular tissue and plasma of rats with induced experimental varicocele. Materials and methods. Twenty-one adolescent (average 6 weeks) male rats were included in the study and randomly divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (control, n = 6) did not undergo any procedure. Group 2 (sham, n = 6) had the left renal vein circled proximally but ligation was not performed. Group 3 (varicocele-induced, n = 9) had partial ligation of the proximal left renal vein to induce left varicocele. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity and levels of end-products of NO, nitrite and nitrate salts were investigated in testis tissue. Nitrite/nitrate and ADMA levels were investigated in plasma. Histopathological examination was completed with routine hematoxylin-eosine and TUNEL dyes. Results. Tissue SOD and plasma ADMA values were clearly increased in the varicocele group compared to the other groups; tissue and plasma nitrite/nitrate levels were clearly reduced in the varicocele group and this was observed to be statistically significant between the groups. Conclusion. We believe our study has opened an important window on the relationship between infertility observed in varicocele patients and ADMA. We believe that broad-series prospective studies to support this are required (AU)

Introducción. El varicocele es uno de los causantes de la disfunción testicular y comúnmente cursa con infertilidad. La patología de base del varicocele es el desarrollo de la disfunción endotelial. Los factores más importantes para el desarrollo de la disfunción endotelial son la vasodilatación dependiente del endotelio, el aumento de los radicales libres del oxígeno, la reducción en la síntesis y liberación de óxido nítrico (NO), la vasoconstricción anormal y los niveles altos de dimetilarginina. Nuestro objetivo fue identificar e ilustrar la relación existente entre la dimetilarginina asimétrica (ADMA) y los niveles de NO en el tejido testicular y el plasma de ratas con varicocele inducido en laboratorio. Material y métodos. En el estudio se incluyeron veintiuna ratas macho adolescentes (6 semanas de media), que se dividieron en 3 grupos al azar. El Grupo 1 (control, n = 6) no fue sometido a ninguna operación. Al Grupo 2 (grupo quirúrgico de referencia, n = 6) se le rodeó de manera proximal la vena renal izquierda, pero no se realizó la ligadura. En el Grupo 3 (varicocele inducido, n = 9) se realizó una ligadura parcial de la vena renal izquierda para inducir varicocele izquierdo. Se investigaron en el tejido testicular los niveles de actividad de la enzima superóxido dimutasa (SOD) y de productos finales del NO, sales de nitritos y nitratos. Se investigaron los niveles de nitrito/nitrato y de ADMA en el plasma. El análisis histopatológico se completó con tinciones hematoxilina-eosina y TUNEL rutinarias. Resultados. Los valores hísticos de SOD y plasmáticos de ADMA habían sufrido un aumento claro en el grupo de varicocele comparado con los otros grupos; los niveles hísticos y plasmáticos de nitrito/nitrato se habían visto claramente reducidos en el grupo de varicocele, lo cual se entendió como un valor estadístico significativo entre los grupos. Conclusión. Opinamos que nuestra investigación ha abierto una puerta importante a la relación entre la infertilidad en casos de pacientes con varicocele y la ADMA. Para respaldarla, deberían llevarse a cabo amplios estudios prospectivos (AU)

Trastornos del desarrollo sexual / Disorders of sex development

Antecedentes. Los trastornos del desarrollo sexual (TDS), que tienen la posibilidad de poner en riesgo vital las emergencias endocrinológicas del recién nacido, precisan un cuidadoso enfoque multidisciplinar. Objetivos. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es consolidar la propuesta de clasificación, evaluación y tratamiento de los TDS. Materiales y métodos. Se revisaron las literaturas relativas a TDS, a fin de hallar el mejor enfoque para esta enfermedad. Resultados. Se precisan la historia clínica detallada, la exploración física sistémica del paciente, el laboratorio concreto y las evaluaciones de imágenes para tratar urgentemente las anormalidades con riesgo vital y la asignación de género. Conclusión. Deberá asignarse el género dependiendo del diagnóstico definitivo, el potencial de fertilidad, el aspecto de los genitales, las opciones quirúrgicas y la opinión de los padres(AU)

Background. Disorders of sex development (DSD), which has the possibility of the risk of life-threatening endocrinologic emergencies of the newborn, require a careful multidisciplinary approach. Objectives. The aim of our study is to consolidate the proposed classification, evaluation and management of DSD. Materials and methods. The literatures related with DSD were reviewed to find the best approach for this disease. Results. The detailed history, systemic physical examination of the patient, particular laboratory and imagine evaluations are needed for the urgent treatment of life-threatening abnormalities and the gender assignment. Conclusion. The gender should be assigned depending on the definitive diagnosis, fertility potential, genital appearance, surgical options, and the parents’ opinion(AU)

Protective effect of decorin on acute ischaemia-reperfusion injury in the rat kidney.

INTRODUCTION: Transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) has a crucial role in collagen synthesis and fibrosis. TGF-ß1 can be antagonized and/or reduced by the action of certain agents. We propose to identify the role of decorin in treatment of tubular and interstitial fibrosis and in the inhibition of TGF-ß1 in an acute ischaemic kidney. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We grouped 34 female Sprague Dawley type rats into 3 groups as 9 sham, 9 ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) and 16 I/R + decorin respectively. The rats in the I/R + decorin group had decorin administered intraperitoneally at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg for 9 days after reperfusion. After 9 days, all the rats in the 3 groups were unilaterally nephrectomized. The TGF-ß1 level was measured immunohistochemically in the nephrectomized material. RESULTS: The TGF-ß1 level was lower in the I/R + decorin group. Evaluation of apoptotic activity level by caspase staining showed a statistically significant difference between the 3 groups. The number of caspase stained cells was lower in the I/R + decorin group. The amount of collagen in interstitial tissue was higher in the I/R group than in the I/R + decorin group, but this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the TGF-ß1 level - the so-called initiator of fibrotic activity - and apoptotic activity were low in the I/R + decorin group. Additional studies must be performed to understand the role of decorin in inhibition of TGF-ß1 and to assess decorin's routine use in acute renal ischaemia.