Idiopathic varicocele is closely associated with male infertility or subfertility. Sertoli cell is a very important regulator of spermatogenesis. We investigated the morphofunctional alterations in the Sertoli cell and its possible involvement in the establishment of testicular primary lesion in experimental left-sided varicocele, induced from peripuberty. Twenty-five male peripubertal rats (44 days postpartum [dpp]) were distributed into two groups: control (C) and varicocele (V). Experimental left varicocele was induced in rats through the partial ligature of the left renal vein. Euthanasia was performed at 100 dpp. Testicular histopathology and testosterone plasmatic level were evaluated. Transferrin and vimentin proteins were, respectively, used as immunomarkers of Sertoli cell function and structure. Significant reductions in vimentin and transferrin expressions were noticed in androgen-dependent stages (VII and VIII) of the seminiferous epithelium cycle in V rats; testosterone plasmatic level was also reduced. Bilateral testicular histopathological alterations were found in V rats, mainly massive germ cell desquamation. The histological damage and changes in protein expressions occurred bilaterally. The relevant impairment of the functional and structural characteristics of the Sertoli cell, together with the typical massive germ cell desquamation, indicates that Sertoli cell changes can primarily contribute to the significant testicular dysfunction associated with varicocele.

特发性精索静脉曲张与男性不育或亚不育密切相关。睾丸支持细胞是精子发生的非常重要的调节剂。我们调查了Sertoli细胞中的形态功能改变及其可能参与了青春期诱发的实验性左侧精索静脉曲张的睾丸原发灶的建立。将25只雄性青春期大鼠（产后第44天）分为两组：对照组（C）和精索静脉曲张（V）。通过左肾静脉的部分结扎在大鼠中诱发实验性左精索静脉曲张。安乐死以100 dpp进行。评估睾丸组织病理学和睾丸激素水平。转铁蛋白和波形蛋白分别用作Sertoli细胞功能和结构的免疫标记。在V大鼠的生精上皮循环的雄激素依赖性阶段（VII和VIII）中注意到波形蛋白和运铁蛋白表达的显着降低；睾丸激素的血浆水平也降低了。在V大鼠中发现双侧睾丸组织病理学改变，主要是大量生殖细胞脱皮。组织学损害和蛋白质表达的改变在两侧发生。Sertoli细胞功能和结构特征的相关损伤，以及典型的大规模生殖细胞脱皮，表明Sertoli细胞的改变可能主要导致与精索静脉曲张相关的睾丸功能障碍。睾丸激素的血浆水平也降低了。在V大鼠中发现双侧睾丸组织病理学改变，主要是大量生殖细胞脱皮。组织学损害和蛋白质表达的改变在两侧发生。Sertoli细胞功能和结构特征的相关损伤，以及典型的大规模生殖细胞脱皮，表明Sertoli细胞的改变可能主要导致与精索静脉曲张相关的睾丸功能障碍。睾丸激素的血浆水平也降低了。在V大鼠中发现双侧睾丸组织病理学改变，主要是大量生殖细胞脱皮。组织学损害和蛋白质表达的改变在两侧发生。Sertoli细胞功能和结构特征的相关损伤，以及典型的大规模生殖细胞脱皮，表明Sertoli细胞的改变可能主要导致与精索静脉曲张相关的睾丸功能障碍。