Presence of varicocele has been shown to be associated with DNA fragmentation, and repair of varicocele with improved DNA parameters.
This purpose of this study was to evaluate human sperm chromatin structure integrity, before and after varicocele repair, using aniline blue staining (AB). The authors evaluated spermatazoa from 20 men before and after varicocele as well as that of 5 control patients (sperm donors) without varicocele.
The percentage of sperm with positive AB staining was significantly lower in control patients compared with pre-varicocelectomy patients (2.5% vs. 13.5%, respectively). Following microsurgical varicocele repair, the percentage of sperm with positive AB staining significantly decreased from 13.5% to 5.4%. There was no significant corresponding change, however, in DNA fragmentation index, sperm concentration or sperm motility.
These data confirm that varicocele is associated with increased histone retention (as signified by positive AB staining), and surgical repair of varicocele significantly improves DNA integrity according to this measure. This finding is consistent with other published studies, and adds support to the concept of varicocelectomy as a treatment option for infertile men with varicocele.
Presented by N. Alhathal, M. San Gabriel, and A. Zini at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting - May 14 - 19, 2011 - Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC USA
Reported for UroToday by Doron S. Stember, MD
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