The correlation between serum epidermal growth factor/testicular epidermal growth factor receptor and spermatogenesis in rat

Objective: To investigate the correlation between epidermal growth factor (EGF)/testicular epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and spermatogenesis in rat.Methods: Forty mature male Spraque-Dauley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to four groups, ten rats in each: sham operation group (SOG), sialoadenectomy group (SG), sialoadeand blood and testes were obtained on the 48th day after the operation. Serum EGF concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), expression of EGF-R in testes was examined by the immunohistochemical method, and the spermatogenesis was pathologically checked.Results:Serum EGF levels in SG-EGFIand SG decreased significantly when compared with those of SOG (P<0.05 and P< 0.01, respectively). The testicular function of spermatogenesis showed a moderate to severe impairment in SG. The expression of EGF-R in Leydig cells decreased in SG (P< 0. 05). The two dosage groups of EGF replacement had different effects.There were no significant differences of EGF-R expression in testicular germ cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells in SOG, SG-EGFIand SG-EGFⅡ(P>0.05).Conclusion: EGF may play an important role in the regulation of spermatogenesis. Serum EGF concentration and high expression of EGF-R in Leydig cells have a positive correlation with spermatogenic function of the testes.