The effects of local and sustained release of fibroblast growth factor on testicular blood flow and morphology in spermatic artery--and vein-ligated rats

Enhancing esophageal repair with bioactive bilayer mesh containing FGF

We aimed to prepare a bioactive and biodegradable bilayer mesh formed by fibroblast growth factor (FGF) loaded gelatin film layer, and poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) film layer, and to investigate its treatment efficacy on esophageal anastomosis. It is envisaged that the bioactive mesh in in vivo model would improve tissue healing in rats. The full thickness semicircular defects of 0.5 × 0.5 cm² were created in anterior walls of abdominal esophagus. The control group had abdominal esophagus isolated with distal esophageal blunt dissection, and sham group had primary anastomosis. In the test groups, the defects were covered with bilayer polymeric meshes containing FGF (5 μg/2 cm²), or not. All rats were sacrificed for histopathology investigation after 7 or 28 days of operation. The groups are coded as FGF(-)-7th day, FGF(+)-7th day, and FGF(+)-28th day, based on their content and operation day. Highest burst pressures were obtained for FGF(+)-7th day, and FGF(+)-28th day groups (p < 0.005) and decreased inflammation grades were observed. Submucosal and muscular collagen deposition scores were markedly increased in these groups compared to sham and FGF(-)-7th day groups having no FGF (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, respectively). It was proved that FGF loaded bioactive bilayer mesh provided effective repair, reinforcement and tissue healing of esophageal defects.

Microscopic Retroperitoneal Varicocelectomy With Artery and Lymphatic Sparing: An Alternative Treatment for Varicocele in Infertile Men

OBJECTIVE

To compare the therapeutic effect of arterial and lymphatic sparing microscopic retroperitoneal varicocelectomy (MRV) with that of microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy (MSV) for treatment of varicocele in infertile men.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective and controlled study to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of MRV and MSV for treatment of varicocele in infertile men. A total of 80 patients were randomly chosen to undergo MRV (n = 40) or MSV (n = 40) treatment. All patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Semen parameters, pregnancy, recurrence, and complications were examined.

RESULTS

Mean operation time in the MRV group was significantly shorter than that in MSV group (38.92 ± 5.67 min vs 91.35 ± 15.08 min), and the number of observed spermatic veins in MRV group was significantly less than that in MSV group (3.59 ± 0.76 vs 18.22 ± 2.83). Sperm count and motility were significantly improved at 12 months follow-up in both groups compared with preoperative values, and the sperm count in the MRV group at 3 months was significantly higher than that in MSV group. Moreover, the incidence of scrotal edema was higher in the MSV group, although natural pregnancy rate was not significantly different between 2 groups at 1-year follow-up (42.1% vs 44.7%).

CONCLUSION

MRV with artery and lymphatic sparing is a simple and effective technique for treatment of varicocele in infertile men.

Long-term effect of pentoxifylline and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester on testicular function in spermatic artery ligation

OBJECTIVE

To investigate long-term testicular function in pentoxifylline- and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-treated rats prior to spermatic artery ligation by assessing serum inhibin B concentration, a reliable endocrine marker of spermatogenesis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty prepubertal rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. Right orchiectomy was performed in all rats. Intraperitoneal pentoxifylline and L-NAME were administered to Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Rats in Group 3 did not receive any medication. The spermatic arteries of the left testes were ligated in all groups with the exception of the sham controls (Group 4). One month postoperatively, a histopathologic evaluation was performed and serum inhibin B concentrations were assessed in all groups.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in testis size or serum inhibin B concentration between Groups 1, 2 and 3. However, the testes were significantly smaller (p(1)=0.01, p(2)=0.01, p(3)=0.01) and serum inhibin B levels were significantly decreased (p(1)=0.01, p(2)=0.01, p(3)=0.01) when Groups 1-3 were compared with Group 4. Histopathological evaluations revealed necrosis and calcification in all specimens with the exception of the sham-operated group.

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term outcomes of spermatic artery ligation were poor and testicular atrophy developed in rat testes in all study groups. Testicular atrophy could not be reversed by preoperative administration of pentoxifylline and L-NAME.

The effects of local and sustained release of fibroblast growth factor on wound healing in esophageal anastomoses

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Postsurgical complications, such as anastomotic leaks in patients with esophageal atresia, have remained unchanged during the last 3 decades. Growth factors enhance healing in several wound-healing models. Therefore, an experimental study was used to evaluate the effects of local and sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) on wound healing in esophageal anastomoses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-four male Wistar albino rats, which were subjected to a 1-cm segmental resection of the abdominal esophagus followed by end-to-end anastomosis, were allocated into 3 groups. Group I, the control group, had no gelatin film applied to the anastomosis. In group II (gelatin film without FGF) and group III (gelatin film with FGF), anastomoses were covered with unloaded and 2.55 mug FGF-loaded gelatin films, respectively. On postoperative day 7, bursting pressures, histopathologic collagen deposition, and tissue hydroxyproline concentrations of the anastomoses were then analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

Mean bursting pressures, mean submucosal and muscular collagen deposition scores, and mean tissue hydroxyproline concentrations differed significantly between groups. Mean bursting pressures were 22.5 +/- 3.1 mm Hg in group I, 29 +/- 1.6 mm Hg in group II, and 63.2 +/- 6.8 mm Hg in group III (P < .001). Mean submucosal collagen deposition scores (group I: 0.7 +/- 0.2, group II: 0.7 +/- 0.1, group III: 1.5 +/- 0.2; P = .02) and mean muscular collagen deposition scores (group I: 0.8 +/- 0.2, group II: 0.8 +/- 0.1, group III: 1.8 +/- 0.1; P = .01) were significantly higher in FGF animals than the other in the other 2 groups. Mean tissue hydroxyproline concentrations were 2.4 +/- 0.5 microg/mg in group I, 3.9 +/- 0.4 microg/mg in group II, and 6.0 +/- 1.0 microg/mg in group III (P = .007).

CONCLUSION

Local and sustained release of FGF enhanced wound healing in esophageal anastomoses in this animal model.

The effects of increased intraabdominal pressure on testicular blood flow, oxidative stress markers, and morphology

BACKGROUND

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of increased intraabdominal pressure (IAP) on testicular blood flow (TBF), oxidative stress markers, and morphology.

METHODS

Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 300 to 350 g were allocated randomly into 3 groups consisting of 8 animals each: A, gasless (control); B, 10 mm Hg IAP with CO(2) pneumoperitoneum for 60 minutes; and C, 20 mm Hg IAP with CO(2) pneumoperitoneum for 60 minutes. Testicular blood flow was studied using the Doppler technique. In the 10 and 20 mm Hg IAP groups, time points of TBF measurements were defined as follows: TBF(baseline), 10 minutes before insufflation; TBF(10min), 10 minutes after pneumoperitoneum; TBF(50min), 50 minutes after pneumoperitoneum; and TBF(reperfusion), 10 minutes after pneumoperitoneum deflation. To evaluate the changes in oxidative stress, we assayed the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of testicular tissues. A 4-level grading scale was used to quantify histologic injury.

RESULTS

For both testes of each rat, TBF(10min), TBF(50min), and TBF(reperfusion) values of each group were separately evaluated according to their TBF(baseline) value percentages. The results revealed no significant differences for each time point of TBF measurements between the right and left testes in any group. Pneumoperitoneum caused a significant decrease in TBF at the 10th and 50th minutes of pneumoperitoneum, both in the 10 and 20 mm Hg IAP groups, compared with their baseline values. TBF(reperfusion) values in both groups were also lower than their baseline values. We determined that mean TBF(10min) and TBF(50min) values decreased significantly in the 20 mm Hg IAP group compared with the 10 mm Hg IAP group, despite there being no significant difference in their mean TBF(reperfusion) values. Mean MDA levels were significantly increased in both the 10 and 20 mm Hg IAP groups compared with those of the control group for the right and left testes. However, there was no significant difference between the mean MDA levels in these first 2 groups. The histologic injury score was significantly increased in both the 10 and 20 mm Hg IAP groups compared with the control group; however, there was no difference in the scores between these first 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated in an animal model that abdominal deflation after IAP of 10 and 20 mm Hg for 60 minutes causes testicular hypoperfusion, free radical production, and subsequent testicular damage.

Analysis of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) gene transcription and protein distribution in the bovine testis

Several fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are implicated in proliferation and differentiation of both somatic and germ cells during testicular development, as well as in spermatogenesis of adult testis. The expression of FGF2 was studied in the adult bovine testis using quantitative RT-PCR, RNA in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed consistent levels of FGF2 mRNA in parenchymal samples of the bovine testis. In situ hybridization localized FGF2 transcripts only in a constant fraction of Leydig and Sertoli cells as well as in modified Sertoli cells of the terminal segments. Immunohistochemistry revealed (a) no FGF2 protein in Sertoli cells (b) moderate cytoplasmic staining in Leydig cells and spermatogonia and (c) strong nuclear and faint cytoplasmic staining in myofibroblasts, in epithelial cells of straight tubules and rete testis and in blood vessels. These observations indicate a pleiotropic effect of FGF2 on the control of spermatogenesis in a paracrine and/or autocrine manner.

Expression and localization of growth factors and their receptors in the mammalian testis. Part I: Fibroblast growth factors and insulin-like growth factors

It is now well established that normal development and function of testis are mediated by endocrine and paracrine pathways including hormones, growth factors and cytokines as well as by direct cell-to-cell contacts depending on tight, adhering and gap junctions. In the last two decades, several growth factors were identified in the testis of various mammalian species. Growth factors are shown to promote cell proliferation, regulate tissue differentiation, and modulate organogenesis. Interestingly, most of these peptides are expressed not only in the adult mammalian testis during spermatogenesis but also during testicular morphogenesis in prenatal and postnatal life. Our study was launched to provide an overview of the expression, localization, and putative physiological roles of growth factors and their receptors in the mammalian testis. The growth factors considered in this part of our review are fibroblast growth factors and insulin-like growth factors. These factors are found in testicular cells in prenatal, postnatal, and adult animals and are implicated in the regulation of important testicular activities including testicular cord morphogenesis, modulation of testicular hormone secretion and control of spermatogenesis.