Study of Nrf2 antioxidant gene in testicular tissue of Wistar male rats induced by varicocele

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve a pregnancy after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse. IN the world almost 4% of men suffer from infertility. Varicocele is an abnormal inflation of the pampiniform venous in the scrotum that is considered as one of the main causes of infertility in men, and are associated with increased levels of oxidative stress that can lead to the expression of antioxidant genes in these individuals.Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to create a varicocele model in animals and to study the levels of oxidative stress and Nrf2 antioxidant gene expression in those.Materials and Methods: In the present study, 30 adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, I: varicocele-induced II: sham and III: control. After two months of varicocele induction, rats were sacrificed and epididymis were dissected. Then, sperm lipid peroxidation assessed by bodipy test. In addition, Real Time PCR technique was used to determine the expression of the n gene of the RNA level. Differences within groups were compared by one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) using a post hoc test (Tukey). Collected data were presented as mean±SEM and p<0.05 was considered to be significant.Results: The results of the current study showed that level of lipid peroxidation in sperm higher in varicocele induction group compared to control and sham groups (p<0.01). Expression of Nrf2 antioxidant gene was significantly higher in varicocele induction group compared to control and shame groups (p<0.01).Conclusion: In the varicocele status due to the high testicular temperature, and consequently increase of oxidative stress level, antioxidant genes such as Nrf2 was activated to counteract the increased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in sperms. So Nrf2 is an important to spermatogenesis and may use in the diagnosis of male s infertility.