Figure 3.

Torsion increased the expressions of serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase-1 (SGK1) mRNA and protein, but suppressed SGK1 phosphorylation. Expression of sgk1 mRNA was increased by 2 and 4 h of torsion. (A) A representative gel pattern shows the expression of sgk1 mRNA for the bilateral testes after different periods of torsion. Quantitative comparisons of sgk1 mRNA were carried out by (B) reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and (C) real-time PCR. Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene was used as an internal control. The values show the ratio of sgk1/HPRT as mean ± SEM. (D) A representative gel pattern shows expressions of SGK1, p-SGK1 Thr²⁵⁶ and p-SGK1 Ser⁴²² in the bilateral testes following torsion. SGK1 protein expression was increased in the 2- and 4-h torsion groups compared with the sham group and in the ipsilateral testis (B), but expression of (C) p-SGK1 Thr²⁵⁶and (D) p-SGK1 Ser⁴²² was decreased in the ipsilateral testes after torsion. Blotting shows SGK1 at 50 kDa, p-SGK1 Thr²⁵⁶ and Ser⁴²² at 48 kDa and β-actin at 43 kDa. β-actin was used as an internal control. Values are mean ± SEM. *p<0.05, vs. respectively contralateral testes; ⁺p<0.05, vs. sham (S) group; ^#p<0.05, vs. ipsilateral 1 h group.