The roles of E-cadherin and α-catenin were evaluated in the development of varicocele-induced infertility. Analysis of the association between the expression of E-cadherin/α-catenin and clinical/pathological parameters was performed. Thirty 10-week-old male rats (experimental group) were used for the experiments; the left renal vein was ligated to form a varicocele. The abdomen was incised in 30 rats (control group) and no procedure was performed on 10 rats (baseline group). The weights of the left testis, serum reactive oxygen species (ROS), testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules after 4 and 8 weeks were recorded. The expression of E-cadherin and α-catenin was evaluated by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and Western blot analysis. The ROS increased in the 8-week experimental group, compared with the baseline and control groups (P<0.001 for both). Additionally, FSH significantly increased in the 4- and 8-week experimental group compared with the control groups (P=0.013 and P=0.032, respectively). The ratio of degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules of the experimental groups increased. The IHC staining showed that the expression of E-cadherin and α-catenin decreased in the 4- and 8-week experimental groups. Similar to the IHC staining, the experimental group had decreased reactivity on Western blot analysis. The expression of E-cadherin and α-catenin was significantly associated with the ROS and degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules. The results of this study suggest that damage to the blood–testis barrier (BTB) is associated with varicocele-induced male infertility, and that ROS may cause damage to the BTB.

Keywords: α-catenin; blood–testis barrier; E-cadherin; varicocele; infertility

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