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Updated: Aug 21, 2026
Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity
Published on: June 18, 2012
[Action of nitric oxide on testicular dysfunction in cirrhotic rats]
1Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Objective:
To investigate the action of nitric oxide (NO) on testicular dysfunction in cirrhotic rats.
Methods:
Cirrhotic rats were induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). Concentration of NO in the serum and homogenates of the testicular tissue in biliary cirrhotic rats, L-NAME rats, and sham operated rats were measured by assay of nitrate reductase. Concentrations of testosterone in the serum of 3 groups were measured by radioimmunoassay. Sperm density and percent of motive sperm in the epididymis of the rats were determined.
Results:
Concentrations of NO in the serum and homogenates of the testicular tissue of cirrhotic rats were significantly greater than those of sham operated rats (4.165 micromol/L 1.162 micromol/L, and 1.305 micromol/g 0.087 micromol/g vs 0.535 micromol/L 0.237 micromol/L and 0.720 micromol/g 0.063 micromol/g). Concentrations of testosterone in the serum, the sperm density and percent of motive sperm in the epididymis were significantly lower in cirrhotic rats than sham operated rats (0.049mug/L 0.020 microgram/L, 16.46% 4.84%, and 86.89 10(6)/ml 33.17 10(6)/ml vs 2.680 microgram/L 0.403 microgram/L, 62.45% 9.21%, and 299.43 10(6)/ml 53.85 10(6)/ml). By contrast, the administration of a low dose of L-NAME (0.5 mg/kg per day) for one week to cirrhotic rats was associated with a significant reduction in concentration of NO (1.975 micromol/L 0.406 micromol/L and 0.950 micromol/g 0.057 micromol/g) and a significant increase in concentration of testosterone in the serum, the sperm density and percent of motive sperm in the epididymis (0.993 microgram/L 0.179 microgram/L, 33.85% 4.93%, and 188.94 10(6)/ml 38.34 10(6)/ml).
Conclusions:
NO is associated with testicular dysfunction in cirrhosis. The testicular dysfunction induced by cirrhosis can obtain improvement by using low dose of L-NAME.
