Effects of experimental left varicocele repair on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor expressions and angiogenesis in rat testis

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of experimental left varicocele (ELV) repair on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions and angiogenesis in rat testis. ELVs were surgically created in 26 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Thirty days after surgery, ELV repair was performed in 13 of the rats. All rats subsequently underwent orchiectomy 30 days after the last laparotomy. Histology of ELV-repaired testicles was compared to that of the unrepaired (ELV) group. The frequency of positive HIF-1α findings was significantly lower in the ELV-repaired than in the ELV group. The frequency of positive VEGF findings was also lower in the ELV-repaired than in the ELV group, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.238). The mean microvessel density in ELV-repair group was significantly lower than that in the ELV group (P = 0.002). Our study demonstrated that ELV repair may protect tissues from hypoxia and hypoxia-related pathophysiologic events, such as angiogenesis, in rat testis.

Partial Oxygen Pressure Affects the Expression of Prognostic Biomarkers HIF‐1 Alpha, Ki67, and CK20 in the Microenvironment of Colorectal Cancer Tissue

“…On the other hand, the levels of pO 2 were negatively related with levels of HIF-1 alpha and Ki67 but positively related with the levels of CK20. Previous study showed that the expression of cytokeratin was enhanced in the cells with low oxygen tension [10], suggesting that different CK may have different functions. In this sense, low pO 2 could affect the activities of biomarkers of CRC.…”

“…HIF-1 alpha is oxygen-mediated factor, which affects HIF bioactivity. HIF-1 alpha can activate genes and their translated proteins, such as erythropoietin [8], glucose transporters [9], and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [10]. The change for HIF-1 alpha has been detected in colorectal cancer (CRC) [11, 12] and several authors have described its importance in angiogenesis and CRC growth [13, 14].…”

Long‐term NaHS administration reduces oxidative stress and apoptosis in a rat model of left‐side varicocele

“…Changes in testicular MDA level (a) and SOD activity (b) in different groups. The supply of oxygen decreases in varicocele as a result of venous stasis(Goren et al, 2017) which can increase ROS production and expression of pro-apoptotic proteins such as caspases(Bayomy, Sarhan, & Abdel-Razek, 2012), Bax, and ***p < .001 significant differences versus Sham group.…”

“…Several reports including Azizi et al have demonstrated the protective effects of NaHS against oxidative stress in ischaemia-reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury in rats (Azizi, Seifi, Kadkhodaee, & Ahghari, 2016).Hypoxia is another factor which causes deleterious effects on sperm quality such as vacuolisation and reduction of sertoli, spermatogonia and leydig cells. The supply of oxygen decreases in varicocele as a result of venous stasis(Goren et al, 2017) which can increase ROS production and expression of pro-apoptotic proteins such as caspases(Bayomy, Sarhan, & Abdel-Razek, 2012), Bax, and…”

Varicoceles in the pediatric population: Diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes

“…38,39 Hypoxia In rats, the expression of hypoxia inducible factor is elevated in the presence of a varicocele and subsequently decreases with repair. 40,41 It is postulated that stasis of blood could affect partial oxygen pressure and metabolism in the testis. 42 Renal and adrenal reflux…”