Introduction
Varicocele is characterized by an abnormal dilation of the testicular veins in the pampiniform plexus. The inci-dence of varicocele in the general adult population is about 15–20%, and it can be considered a major cause of male infertility. It may occur by a number of different mechanisms, and is thus considered to be a multifactorial disease [1].
The exact mechanism of impaired testicular function in patients with varicocele has not yet been determined. Elevated testicular and scrotal temperature, venous stasis and resultant hypoxia, reflux of adrenal breakdown products in the testicular vein, lower intratesticular testosterone, and androgen receptor defects are possible causes [2].
Integrity of sperm DNA is essential for the accurate transmission of genetic information to offspring. In human studies, some reports demonstrated that varico-cele is associated with a high level of DNA-damaged
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Seminal oxidative stress and testicular apoptosis both are well-documented causes of increased sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation. Higher rates of sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation lead to lower fertility rates, both during natural and assisted reproduction [4].
This study aimed to assess sperm DNA damage in varicocele patients.
Patients and methods
This study was carried out on 20 infertile male patients having varicocele (the duration of infertility ranged from 1 to 15 years). They were collected from the Outpatient Clinic of the Dermatology and Venereology Department, Tanta University Hospital. The study also included a control group consisting of 10 age-matched healthy fertile men with normal semen analysis results and without varicocele, who had had a child in the previous year.
DOI: 10.1097/01.XHA.0000417808.08428.f2
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