Effect of varicocele on sperm function and semen oxidative stress.

Objective: To assess the effect of varicocele on sperm DNA integrity, mitochondrial activity, lipid peroxidation and acrosome integrity.

Patients And Methods: In all, 30 patients with a clinically diagnosed varicocele of grade II or III and 32 men without a varicocele were evaluated for sperm DNA fragmentation (comet assay), mitochondrial activity (3,3'-diaminobenzidine assay), lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) and acrosome integrity (fluorescent probe labelled peanut agglutinin).

Results: The varicocele group showed fewer spermatozoa with intact DNA (grade II, P= 0.040), more cells with inactive mitochondria (class III, P= 0.001), fewer cells with active mitochondria (class I, P= 0.005) and fewer spermatozoa with intact acrosomes (P < 0.001). Finally, no significant differences were observed in lipid peroxidation levels.

Conclusion: Men with varicocele showed an increase in sperm DNA fragmentation and a reduction in mitochondrial activity and acrosome integrity. However, lipid peroxidation levels remained unchanged.