• PMID: 19593986
• Gene Name: FLT1
• Condition: Affect spermatogenesis and spermiotelcosis, which may be one of the causes of varicocele-induced male infertility or subfertility
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Affect spermatogenesis and spermiotelcosis, which may be one of the causes of varicocele-induced male infertility or subfertility

[Experimental varicocele affects VEGF and Flt-1 protein expressions in the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats]

Ai QY, Tian H, Ma L, Miao NZ, Huo YW, Wang HX, Wang LR, Qiu SD, Zhang QY.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of experimental left varicocele (ELV) on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) proteins in the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats, and to find out the correlation of the two proteins with varicocele-induced male infertility. METHODS: We established the ELV model in adolescent male SD rats, and detected the expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 proteins in the testis and epididymis by immunohistochemistry at 2 and 4 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: Cell- and region-specific expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 were observed in the testis and epididymis of the ELV and control groups. Statistical analysis showed that, in comparison with the corresponding control groups, the 2- and 4-week ELV groups exhibited a notable increase in the VEGF protein expression in the hibateral testis and epididymis (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the Flt-1 expression was obviously upregulated in the hibateral testis and epididymis of the 2-week ELV group (P < 0.01, P < 0.01), but remarkably reduced in the hibateral testis and left epididymis of the 4-week ELV group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), with no statistic difference in the right epididymis (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: ELV can cause changes in the expressions of VEGF and Flt-1 proteins in the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats, and consequently affect spermatogenesis and spermiotelcosis, which may be one of the causes of varicocele-induced male infertility or subfertility. FAU - Ai, Qing-yan AU - Ai QY AD - Department of Human Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Xi 'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China. aqy_2001@163.com FAU - Tian, Hong AU - Tian H FAU - Ma, Li AU - Ma L FAU - Miao, Nai-zhou AU - Miao NZ FAU - Huo, Yong-wei AU - Huo YW FAU - Wang, Hai-xu AU - Wang HX FAU - Wang, Li-rong AU - Wang LR FAU - Qiu, Shu-dong AU - Qiu SD