Correlation Between the Expression of iNOS and Oxidative Stress on Testis After Cigarette Smoke Exposure

Objective: To study the relationship of iNOS expression on the rat spermatogenic cells and the oxidative stress after smoking,and to investigate the effects of anti-oxidation therapy.Methods: Twenty-one male rats aged eight weeks were randomizedly and equally divided into three groups.Group A were control group,Group B were exposed to smoking and Group C were exposed to smoking and received daily intramuscular injection of r-GSH.The levels of nitric oxide(NO),inducible nitric oxidase(iNOS),nitric oxidase(NOS),superoxide-dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) ad malondialdehyde(MDA) were studied.The morphology of spermatogenic epithelium in each group was observed with light microscopy.The expression of iNOS protein in epithelium was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results: Activity of SOD and CAT increased but activity of GSH-Px decreased,and levels of MDA and NO increased in testis tissues of rats exposed to smoking(Group B).The difference between Group A and C was not significant.There was a significant difference of iNOS expression between smoking group and control group,while no difference between Group A and C was found.Conclusion: Exposure to cigarette smoke causes harmful effects in the oxidative enzyme levels in rat testis.iNOS expression probably is more important role in oxidative stress on spermatogenic cells.Anti-oxidative stress therapy could decrease the expession of iNOS on spermatogenic cells,and could reverse the harmful effects of oxidative stress on spermatogenic cells.