Expression of survivin proteins in recovery of mice spermatogenesis and its correlation with germ cell apoptosis

    HU Chuanª²Yi

    Department of Urology, Renhe Hospital, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443001, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To explore the expression of antiapoptotic proteins survivin in the testis tissue and its correlation with germ cells apoptosis. METHODS: Adult Kunming mice were injected intraperitoneally with two doses of busulfan at 10 mg/kg bodyweight at an interval of 24 h, so as to establish the models in the process of spermatogenesis recovery. Testes were harvested in 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 weeks after the second injection. The survivin expression was detected by immunohistochemistry Sª²P method and the germ cell apoptosis was detected by transmission electron microscope and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferaseª²mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique. RESULTS: Survivin was mostly expressed in the leydig cells, secondary spermatocytes and spermatoblasts. The germ cell apoptosis mainly occurred in primary spermatocytes and round spermatoblasts. Survivin expression was negatively correlated with sperm cell apoptosis (r=-0.784, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Survivinª²induced inhibition of apoptosis may participate in the balance of apoptosis and thus plays an important role in the normal spermatogenesis. ......