Potential role of prokineticin 2 in experimental varicocele-induced rat testes.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the possible role of prokineticin 2 in varicocele by inducing varicoceles in adult rats.

METHODS

Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for sham operation (n = 10) and varicocele (n = 30) groups. Experimental varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in the varicocele, whereas the sham operation group only received a sham induction of varicocele. Left testes were harvested for real-time quantitative polymerase chair readtion analysis 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the induction of varicocele.

RESULTS

The expression of prokineticin 2 mRNA in 8-week varicocele-induced rats was significantly higher (P < .05) than that in the sham operation group.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that prokineticin 2 expression is increased by varicocele induction and it may have a role in varicocele-induced infertility.