Expression of Galectin-3 As A Testis Inflammatory Marker in Vasectomised Mice

Objective: vasectomy, though in some cases are being confronted with irreversibility, has been accepted as an effective contraceptive method. it is estimated that near 2-6% of vasectomised men ultimately show a tendency to restore their fertility. in some cases, vasectomyhas been considered asanirreversible proceduredue to manypost-vasectomy complicationscausingthis debate. theaim of present study was to investigate thepattern ofexpressionofgalectin-3,aninflammatoryfactorsecretedbymacrophagesandimmunecells,following the vasectomy in mice testis tissue.materials and methods: in this experimental study, twenty mature male balb/c mice, aged two months, were divided into two equal groups: sham and vasectomised groups (n=10). they were sacrificed four months after vasectomy, while the pattern of galectin-3 expression was investigated using a standard immunohistochemistry technique on testiculartissues. stereological analysesof testes parameters in vasectomised andshamoperatedgroups were compared by mixed model analysis.results: based on observations, although galectin-3 was not expressed in sham-operatedgroup, it was expressed in 40% of testicular tissues of vasectomised mice, like: seminiferoustubules,interstitialtissuesandtunicaalbugina.also,ourresultshowedasignificantalterationinnumber ofgerm andsertolicellsoftesticular tissuein vasectomised groupincomparisontosham-operated group.in addition, theresult of mixed modelmethodconfirmeda significant reduction in germ and sertoli cells of vasectomised group.conclusion: the expression of galectin-3 at different parts of testicular tissue in vasectomisedgroupishigher thansham group.thisexpress illustratestheincrease ofdegenerativechangesandinflammationreactionsintesticulartissue,leadingtochroniccomplicationsand infertility,after the vasovasostomy.