Management and Treatment of Varicocele in Children and Adolescents: An Endocrinologic Perspective

Condorelli

et al. 2020

JCM

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Male infertility is a widespread condition among western countries. Meta-regression data show that sperm concentration and total sperm count have halved in the last decades. The reasons of this decline are still unclear. The evaluation of testicular function in pre-pubertal children may be effective in the timely detection of Sertoli cell (SC) disfunction, which anticipates the diagnosis of male infertility. The aim of this Special Issue is to gather together in vitro evidence on SC physiology, causes of SC dysfunction, and to suggest a practical approach to be adopted in children.

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Disorders of Puberty: Endocrinology of the Pre-Pubertal Testis

Vignera

Condorelli

et al. 2020

JCM

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“…Varicocele has negative effects on both conventional and bio-functional sperm parameters. Patients with varicocele have lower sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressively motile spermatozoa, and normal forms compared with healthy fertile men, as reviewed in [42]. Additionally, increased percentage of sperm with SDF, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased externalization of phosphatidylserine (an early sign of apoptosis) occur in patients with varicocele [43].…”

Section: Varicocele Oxidative Stress and Seminal Plasma Proteomementioning

confidence: 99%

Seminal Plasma Proteomic Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress

Crafa

Barbagallo

et al. 2020

IJMS

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The prevalence of idiopathic male infertility is high, up to 75% of patients with abnormal sperm parameters. Hence, the research of its causes is mandatory. Oxidative stress (OS) can be responsible for male infertility in 30–80% of cases. In recent years, seminal plasma (SP) proteomics has developed as a useful tool to provide biomarkers of specific diseases. This systematic review aims to collect the available evidence on the changes of SP proteome in patients exposed to OS to provide possible SP biomarkers of sperm OS. To accomplish this, the following keyterms “seminal fluid proteome”, “seminal plasma proteome”, “oxidative stress”, and “sperm oxidative stress” were used and 137 records were found. Among these, 17 were finally included. Nine proteins involved with OS were found overexpressed in patients with OS. Twenty-three proteins were found differentially expressed in patients with clinical conditions associated with OS, such as varicocele, male accessory gland infection/inflammation, cigarette smoke, and obesity. These proteins do not seem to overlap among the clinical conditions taken into account. We speculate that specific SP proteins may mediate OS in different clinical conditions. Altogether, these results suggest that proteomics could help to better understand some of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of infertility. However, further studies are needed to identify potential biomarkers of male infertility with valuable clinical significance.

“…The association between varicocele and abnormal sperm parameters is well known in the adulthood [ 6 ]. By contrast, few evidence is available on this matter in the adolescence [ 3 ], when testicular asymmetry, scrotal pain, and/or hormone abnormalities suggest the correction of varicocele [ 7 , 8 ]. Several other diseases are able to affect sperm parameters, such as genetic disorders (karyotype abnormalities, numeric or structural chromosome alterations, Y chromosome microdeletions, syndromic genetic disorders, single gene mutations) [ 9 , 10 ], male accessory gland infection or inflammation [ 11 ], congenital or acquired hypogonadism, testicular tumor, testicular torsion, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leukocytospermia in late adolescents: possible clinical interpretations

Vignera

Aversa

et al. 2020

J Endocrinol Invest

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Background No data are currently available on the implication of amicrobial leukocytospermia in male adolescents. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of amicrobial leukocytospermia among non-smoker late adolescents who were exposed to other risky lifestyles for the andrological health. The main andrological clinical features of adolescents with leukocytospermia were also reported. Methods This is a cross-sectional study carried out in 80 boys. Each adolescent underwent a physical examination, and to the assessment of sperm conventional parameters, seminal leukocytes concentration and immature germ cell evaluation. A possible correlation between seminal leukocytes and immature germ cells and testicular volume (TV) was tested. Results The adolescents enrolled in this study had 18.0 ± 0.4 (range 18.1–18.9) years. Unprotected sexual intercourse was referred by 38% of them. Sexual dysfunctions were found in 25% and isolated hypoactive sexual desire in 12.5% of boys. Low TV and penile length in flaccidity were found in 44% and 30% of them, respectively. Only 41% had normozoospermia at the sperm analysis, whereas 19% had isolated oligozoospermia, 15% oligo-asthenozoospermia, and 25% oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia. Leukocytospermia occurred in 25% (20 out of 80) of adolescents. No seminal infection was detected in 19% (15 out of 80) of them. Adolescents with leukocytospermia had lower progressive sperm motility, percentage of normal forms, TV, and a higher percentage of immature germ cells compared to those without leukocytospermia. Semen leukocyte concentration correlated negatively with TV and positively with the percentage of immature germ cells in the ejaculate. Conclusion Leukocytospermia, increased immature germ cell number, and low TV identify a distinct phenotype suggestive of testicular tubulopathy. Primary prevention of male infertility and the counselling for andrological risky lifestyles is mandatory and should be started as early as possible.