[Expression change and significance of homebox gene-A10 in rat cryptorchidism].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effects of HOXA10 gene expression in undescended and descended testis.

METHODS

Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were surgically prepared for unilateral cryptorchidism model. Their undescended and descended testes were removed at days 7 (infancy period, group B7) and 60 (sexual maturity period, group B60) post-operation. And contralateral descended testis served as controls (group A7, group A60). The expression of HOXA10 with histologic changes in experimental cryptorchidism were detected with one-step real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the levels of HOXA10 gene for groups B7 and B60 decreased markedly to 0.78 ± 0.11 (P < 0.01) and 0.56 ± 0.03 (P < 0.01) respectively.However the levels of HOXA10 gene and protein in group B60 were significantly lower than those in group B7 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a lower expression of HOXA10 in undescended testes than in normally developed counterparts. And the expression of HOXA10 decreases with the elapsing time of cryptorchidism.