Effects of varicocele on 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase expression and its potential role in surgically varicocele-induced rat testes

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of 4-aminotransferase (ABAT) and its effect on spermatogenesis in experimental varicocele rat model. Methods A total of 36 specific pathogen free (SPF) male SD rats were randomly divided into varicocele group and sham operation group, with 18 rats in each group. The experimental rat varicocele was induced by partially occluding left renal vein and completely ligating the branches of the left spermatic vein (LSV). After 4 weeks, the using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Masson and glycogen staining were used to evaluate the two groups of kidney and testis histology change, evaluation of varicocele rat model. After the model was constructed, the localization of ABAT protein in rat testis was further analyzed by immunofluorescence, and the expression of ABAT protein in varicocele was detected by Western blotting, and the possible role was analyzed. Results 4, 6, 8 weeks after the operation, the varicocele group in the kidney tissue pathological changes were not found, and the left spermatic vein diameter was greater than 1 mm [(1.52±0.23) mm vs. (0.26±0.03) mm], the weight of the left testis [(1.61±0.08) g vs. (1.93±0.11) g] and the percentage of seminiferous tubules (58% vs. 18%) were lower than the control group, which indicates that the successful construction of varicocele animal model. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that ABAT protein was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of spermatogenic cells. Compared with the control group, with the prolonged duration of varicocele, Western blotting showed that the expression of ABAT protein was down regulated in the varicocele group, which is positive with the degree of spermatogenesis damage. Conclusion In experimental rat varicocele model, varicocele affects the expression of ABAT protein, which may be related to varicocele damage spermatogenesis. Key words: 4-transaminase; Varicocele; Rat testis