Effect of vitamin D in experimental varicocele model in rats

Abstract

Purpose: Varicocele is a pathological condition that affects approximately 20% of adult men, causing infertility and sperm deterioration. The aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy of vitamin D (Vit. D) in the pathophysiology of varicocele. We performed biochemical, gene expression analyses and histopathological to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D in the experimental varicocele model.
 Materials and Methods: In the study, 30 adult male Wistar Albino rats were used. The rats were divided into 3 groups equally as control group, experimental group (varicocele), treatment group (varicocele + D vit.). The treatment group received 500 IU/kg D vit. intramuscularly.
 Results: Histopathological, TRPM2-8 gene expression and biochemical analyses were performed on testicular and blood samples collected at the end of the experiment. The experimental group showed a deterioration in tubular structure, a decrease in total antioxidant levels and an increase in total oxidant levels. The treatment group, on the other hand, showed an increase in TAS, a decrease in TOS and a beneficial improvement in tubular structure disorders. Analysis of gene expression levels showed that TRPM2-8 expression levels were significantly increased in the varicocele group and decreased in the treatment group.
 Conclusion: In the varicocele model, the use of vitamin D had a significant effect on TRPM2-8 gene level, pathological seminiferous tubules and biochemical values. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical application of vitamin D in varicocele disease.