The effects of experimental varicocele on testicular histology and fertility in monorchic adult rats

Aşçı, Ramazan; Sarıkaya, Şaban; Büyükalpelli, Recep; Af, Yilmaz; Yıldız, Sulhiye

doi:10.1046/j.1464-410x.1999.00942.x

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Several clinical and animal studies have examined varicocele pathophysiology and the adverse effects of varicoceles on testicular function [2][3][4]. Although there have been numerous studies, the pathophysiological effects of varicoceles on human spermatogenesis and male fertility remain unclear.…”

Section: Pathophysiology Of Varicocelesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of varicocele repair for male infertility in the era of assisted reproductive technologies

Kimura

Nagao

2014

Reprod Medicine & Biology

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Varicocele is an abnormal condition characterized by dilatation of the pampiniform plexus veins draining the testis and is present in 15 % of men. Varicoceles have an adverse effect on spermatogenesis and are the most common cause of male infertility. Approximately 35 % of infertile men and more than 70 % of men with secondary infertility were reported to have varicoceles. Although data on methods of varicocele repair are accumulating, there remains controversy regarding the indications and techniques for varicocele repair. In addition, the role of varicocele repair in this era of assisted reproductive technologies continues to be debated. In this study, we performed a comprehensive PubMed search in order to review the current status of varicocele repair for male infertility. We reviewed English-language studies published from 1992 through 2013. After reviewing the articles, we identified a recent meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials, which found that varicocele repair for oligozoospermic men was associated with better pregnancy rates as compared with observation. Our review of prospective studies showed that all semen parameters, including sperm concentration, motility, and progressive motility, were significantly improved after varicocele repair. We also summarize the findings of recent studies reporting beneficial effects of varicocele repair, i.e., decreased oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation after varicocele repair and superior cost effectiveness versus in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection alone, which may be important in the era of assisted reproductive technologies. Varicocele repair is a widespread, well-established procedure that can improve semen parameters in men with infertility. The effect of such treatment on the pregnancy rate is unclear because evidence is limited due to difficulties in recruiting patients for studies. Among the repair techniques, microsurgical repair using a subinguinal approach is potentially the best practice, although this procedure requires training in microsurgery. All these topics require further research in studies with sufficient patient enrollment and follow-up.

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Section: Pathophysiology Of Varicocelesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of varicocele repair for male infertility in the era of assisted reproductive technologies

Kimura

Nagao

2014

Reprod Medicine & Biology

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“…Histological sections of both testes of each animal were prepared and stained with H&E for histopathological examination and for determining Johnsen scores [13]. Histological changes were defined as severe when Johnsen scores were less than 6, because this score was found to be related to infertility in rats in a previous study [14]. Seminiferous tubule diameters (STDs) were measured on 25 tubules by using DP2-BSW software (Olympus, Center Valley, PA, USA) and an optical microscope (BX-51T; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) with a ×20 objective.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of the Partial Obstruction Site of the Renal Vein on Testis and Kidney in Rats: Is the Traditional Animal Model Suitable for Varicocele Research?

Chae

Kim

et al. 2010

Korean J Urol

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PurposeWe investigated the influence of the location of the partial renal vein obstruction on the left kidney, the bilateral testes, and cauda epididymal sperm quality and determined whether this animal model is suitable for varicocele study.Materials and MethodsA total of 25 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to three groups: group 1 (experimental varicocele by partial ligation medial to the internal spermatic vein for 8 weeks, n=8), group 2 (partial ligation lateral to the internal spermatic vein for 8 weeks, n=10), and group 3 (sham operation for 8 weeks, n=7). Rats in groups 1, 2, and 3 underwent a left nephrectomy and bilateral orchiectomy at 8 weeks after the operation. Histological changes and Johnsen score in both testes were analyzed. Fibrotic changes in the left kidney were assessed by quantitative image analysis. Numbers of sperm and proportions of motile sperm in the cauda epididymides were determined.ResultsSignificant histological abnormalities and Johnsen score changes were observed in the testes in group 1. Renal fibrosis did not differ significantly among the groups. The proportions of motile sperm were significantly lower bilaterally in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3. However, the mean bilateral epididymal sperm count in group 1 was not significantly lower than in groups 2 and 3.ConclusionsOur results showed that experimental varicocele in the rat, induced by partial ligation medial to the internal spermatic vein, influences epididymal sperm quality without harmful effects on the left kidney. The present study certifies that this traditional animal model is suitable for varicocele research.

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“…In addition, the thickness of the seminiferous tubule is inversely related to the duration of varicocele [1][2][3][4] . Oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a role in the development of varicocele [5,6] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Varicocele Induces p53-Dependent Germ Cell Apoptosis through Activation of γ-H2AX

Chang

Kim²,

Park³

et al. 2010

Urol Int

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Aim: Since DNA damage-related apoptosis is raising concerns regarding abnormal spermatogenesis, we investigated the changes in γ-H2AX during testicular germ cell apoptotic responses in the varicocele model. Materials and Methods: Varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein and animals were sacrificed at 1, 3, and 4 weeks after varicocele creation. The levels of activated p53 and γ-H2AX formation were determined by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Results: γ-H2AX formation was augmented after varicocele creation, while a significant increase in p53 phosphorylation was detected in a time course-dependent manner. Varicocele-dependent nuclear γ-H2AX staining in the primary spermatocytes was prominent as degenerative foci, while little differences could be detected in spermatogonia. Conclusions: These results show that experimental varicocele may induce p53-dependent apoptosis through activation of γ-H2AX in the primary spermatocytes, and suggest that γ-H2AX may be related to apoptotic signal transduction in experimental varicocele.

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The effects of experimental varicocele on testicular histology and fertility in monorchic adult rats

Cited by 11 publications

References 30 publications

Role of varicocele repair for male infertility in the era of assisted reproductive technologies

Role of varicocele repair for male infertility in the era of assisted reproductive technologies

The Effect of the Partial Obstruction Site of the Renal Vein on Testis and Kidney in Rats: Is the Traditional Animal Model Suitable for Varicocele Research?

Experimental Varicocele Induces p53-Dependent Germ Cell Apoptosis through Activation of γ-H2AX

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