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Increased expression of interleukin-1alpha and interleukin-1beta is associated with experimental varicocele
Zeliha Sahin1, Ciler Celik-Ozenci, Gokhan Akkoyunlu
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
Objective:
To describe the effect of varicocele, in an experimental rat model, on the levels of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta proteins in testis tissue.
Design:
Comparative and controlled study.
Setting:
Experimental research.
Animal(S):
Wistar male rats in experimental and control groups.
Intervention(S):
The control group underwent sham operation (n = 6). Experimental groups underwent partial ligation of the renal vein to induce experimental varicocele and were then killed at 9 (n = 6), 11 (n = 6), and 13 (n = 6) weeks after induction of varicocele.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Histologic evaluation of the varicocele model was determined by periodic acid-Schiff staining of paraffin-embeded testicular tissues. Levels of cytokines were assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.
Result(S):
Varicocele caused testicular damage, especially in 11- and 13-week-old varicocele groups. In sham-operated rats, Golgi complexes of round spermatids expressed especially the alpha form of IL-1. By the progression of varicocele, the IL-1alpha expression increased temporally in Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, spermatids, and Leydig cells. The expression of IL-1beta was seen in Leydig cells in sham-operated rats. The IL-1beta expression was also increased upon progression of varicocele in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and spermatogonia.
Conclusion(S):
We suggest that IL-1alpha and IL-1beta are the regulators of testicular function. Certain pathologic conditions, e.g., varicocele, cause an increase in the expressions of such proinflammatory cytokines. The increased expression of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta in varicocele shifts the balance in favor of inflammatory and immune responses and causes detrimental effects in testis tissue, which may cause male infertility.
