Fig. 1

Effect of MAS on testicular histopathology and germ cell apoptosis based on with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining of varicocele (VC)-induced male SD rats. a Hematoxylin and eosin stain showing scanty spermatogenic cells, irregular seminiferous tubules and seminiferous tubules with vacuoles in the VC group (arrowhead; a). b Johnsen’s score in seminiferous tubules compared among different groups. c Spermatogenic cell density of seminiferous tubules. (d) TUNEL staining. Black arrows showed TUNEL-positive cells (arrows; d). e Quantification of apoptotic index (AI) expressed as total positive cells/seminiferous tubule X 100. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. The differences were tested by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test; n = 10 for each group. ^*Significant at P < 0.05; ^** Significant at P < 0.01; ^*** Significant at P < 0.001- versus CTR group; ^# Significant at P < 0.05; ^## Significant at P < 0.01; ^### Significant at P < 0.001- versus VC group. CTR: control; MAS 200: MAS 200 mg/kg p.o.; VC: varicocele; VC + MAS 200: MAS 200 mg/kg p.o.; p.o.: per oral; ANOVA: analysis of variance; SEM: standard error of the mean; AI: apoptotic index