INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to compare the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) plasma levels of the internal spermatic vein and peripheral vein for patients with varicocele and infertility with a comparison group of fertile patients needing scrotal surgery for other reasons, and to examine the correlation between the 5-HT levels and semen parameters.
METHODS: Participants were 30 patients with varicocele and infertility and a comparison group of 30 fertile patients with inguinal hernia, hydrocele, or epididymal cyst. Their ages ranged from 24-35 years. Patients with varicocele received at least 2 semen analyses before surgery. Spermatic vein blood samples were taken intraoperatively and peripheral vein blood samples were taken preoperatively from all patients. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was used for semen analysis; the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to measure blood plasma 5-HT levels. Analysis of variance and Spearman's rank correlation tests were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS: The plasma free serotonin concentration of the internal spermatic vein was significantly higher than the concentration in the peripheral vein for patients with varicocele (P < .01), and significantly higher than the spermatic vein concentration of the comparison group (P < .01). In the comparison group, no statistically significant difference was found between the plasma free serotonin concentration of the spermatic and peripheral veins (P > .05). There were significant negative correlations between the plasma 5-HT levels of the internal spermatic vein and sperm density (Spearman r = -0.465, P = .0097) and sperm motility (Spearman r = -0.539, P = .0024) in the patients with varicocele.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with varicocele have elevated free 5-HT plasma concentrations in the spermatic vein that may be a cause of fertility decline.
KEYWORDS: Varicocele; 5-hydroxytryptamine; Internal spermatic vein; Peripheral vein; Semen parameters .
CORRESPONDENCE: Salifou Issiaka TRAORE, MD, PhD. Wuhan University Zhongnan Hospital, Department of Urology, Wuchang East Lake Road No. 169, Wuhan City, P.O. Box 430071, China () or Professor Zheng Xin-min ().
CITATION: Urotoday Int J. 2010 Aug;3(4).
doi:10.3834/uij.1944-5784.2010.08.11
