Abstract
Objective: To investigate the oxidative DNA damage in the seminal plasma and spermatozoa of infertile men with varicocele and to evaluate the potential relationship between oxidative DNA damage and varicocele. Methods: This case-control study recruited 180 infertile men with varicocele and 199 infertile men without varicocele and 168 fertile male control subjects. Semen parameters, seminal plasma 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and sperm DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) were assessed. Results: Compared to the infertile men without varicocele and control subjects, infertile men with varicocele exhibited lower sperm concentration, lower progressive motility, lower vitality and lower percentage of normal morphology (all P=0.0001). The seminal content of 8-OHdG and sperm DFI were higher in infertile men with varicocele than in infertile men without varicocele and in the control group (all P<0.001). A positive correlation was observed between the 8-OHdG levels and DFI (P<0.001). However, There were negative correlations between seminal plasma 8-OHdG levels or sperm DFI with sperm concentration, progressive motility, vitality, and normal forms in the varicocele group (all P<0.001). Furthermore, the seminal plasma 8-OHdG content and sperm DFI was significantly higher in grades II and III than in grade I after controlling age, BMI, abstinence period and semen parameters. Conclusions: Infertile men with varicocele have greater oxidative DNA damage in seminal plasma and spermatozoa than the subjects without varicocele. The degrees of varicocele and DNA damage were associated with decreased semen quality in infertile men with varicocele.
Highlights
Varicoceles are present in 15 percent of the adult male population and in approximately 40 percent of men presenting with infertility
Infertility can be caused by an imbalance between Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and seminal antioxidants in the semen, resulting in oxidative stress and spermatozoa damage [3]
The present study showed that infertile men with higher varicocele grade exhibit higher 8-OHdG levels in seminal plasma and higher DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) than patients with varicocele grade I or those infertile men without varicocele or the fertile men and the sperm DFI was positively correlated with the 8-OHdG levels in seminal plasma for the patients with varicocele
Summary
Varicoceles are present in 15 percent of the adult male population and in approximately 40 percent of men presenting with infertility. Varicoceles are highly associated with increased oxidative stress, which may diminish sperm function through sperm membrane and DNA damage [2]. Antioxidants that are present in the seminal plasma compensate for the deficiency in cytoplasmic enzymes in the spermatozoa [3]. Several studies suggested relationships between oxidative stress and male infertility. Infertility can be caused by an imbalance between Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and seminal antioxidants in the semen, resulting in oxidative stress and spermatozoa damage [3]. Many markers can be used to assess the spermatozoa oxidative stress and semen. 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosin (8-OHdG) is widely considered as one of those markers of oxidative DNA damage [4]
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