Role of calcifying nanoparticles in the development of testicular microlithiasis in vivo

BMC Urology

Research Article

Qing-hua Zhang¹  Xiang Gao¹  Xia-cong Lin²  Bo Song³  Gen-sheng Lu³ 

[1] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 400038, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China;Department of Urology, the 175th Hospital of PLA (Dongnan Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University), 363000, Zhangzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China;Urological Research Institute of PLA, Southwest hospital, Third Military Medical University, 400038, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China;

关键词: Calcification;    Calcifying nanoparticles;    Inflammation;    Testicular microlithiasis;    seminiferous tubules;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12894-017-0289-0

 received in 2016-05-04, accepted in 2017-10-23,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCalcifying nanoparticles (NPs) have been proven to be associated with a variety of pathological calcification and previously detected in semen samples from patients with testicular microlithiasis (TM). The present study was designed to test the hypothesis if human-derived NPs could invade the seminiferous tubules and induce TM phenotype.MethodsThe animals were divided into three groups. Normal saline (0.2 mL) was injected into the proximal right ductus deferens in group A as a control group. The experimental groups, B and C received Escherichia coli (106 cfu/mL, 0.2 mL) and human-derived NPs suspension (0.2 mL), respectively. Rats were euthanized in 2 batches at 2 and 4 weeks. Testicular pathology, ultrastructure and inflammatory mediators were assessed.ResultsChronic inflammatory changes were observed at 2 weeks in both groups B and C. Moreover, the innermost layer of sperm cells were structurally impaired and a zone of concentrically layered collagen fibers around the human NPs body was formed in the lumen of the seminiferous tubule in group C only, in which TM phenotype of remarkable calcification surrounded by cellular debris within the seminiferous tubules was built at 4 weeks.ConclusionsThe results obtained from our study suggested a potential pathogenic effect of NPs in the development of calcification within the seminiferous tubules, which should be addressed in the future studies.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017