Razi Mazdak, Sadrkhanloo Rajab-Ali, Malekinejad Hassan, Sarafzadeh-Rezaei Farshid
Department of Comparative Histology and Embryology, University of Urmia, Urmia, Iran.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Urmia, Urmia, Iran.
Int J Fertil Steril. 2011 Oct;5(3):174-85. Epub 2011 Dec 22.
We designed this study to clarify how varicocele can time-dependently affect sperm morphological parameters and DNA integrity. In this study, we intend to estimate the effect of various periods of varicocele on the in vitro fertilization (IVF) rate in rats.
In this experimental study, left varicocele were induced as the test group (n=18) which was further sub-divided into three groups based on the study termination time (4, 6 and 8 months after varicocele induction). The control-sham group (n=6) consisted of rats who received no treatment. Repopulation index (RI), tubular differentiation index (TDI), sperm viability and motility, morphological maturity, chromatin integrity and ability to undergo IVF were assessed. In addition, the potential impact of varicocele on serum total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and total thiol molecules (TTM) were examined.
Histological results showed that varicocele negatively influenced TDI and RI. All sperm morphological parameters were lower than those in the control-sham group. DNA damage was severely and time-dependently substantiated in all test groups. Varicocele significantly reduced the ability of sperm derived from varicocele rats to undergo IVF. Serum TAOC and TTM levels reduced in a time-dependent manner. Right testes varicocele-induced rats showed remarkably less damaged profile for all investigated parameters compared to the left testes varicocele.
Our data suggested that experimentally induced varicocele negatively impacted sperm maturation and chromatin integrity in a time-dependent manner. This consequently caused a remarkable reduction in IVF ability. The detrimental effect of varicocele may be attributed to the significant reduction of antioxidant capacity of the serum.
我们设计本研究以阐明精索静脉曲张如何随时间影响精子形态参数和DNA完整性。在本研究中，我们旨在评估不同时期的精索静脉曲张对大鼠体外受精（IVF）率的影响。
在本实验研究中，诱导左侧精索静脉曲张作为试验组（n = 18），根据研究终止时间（精索静脉曲张诱导后4、6和8个月）进一步分为三组。对照假手术组（n = 6）由未接受任何治疗的大鼠组成。评估再殖指数（RI）、小管分化指数（TDI）、精子活力和运动能力、形态成熟度、染色质完整性以及体外受精能力。此外，还检测了精索静脉曲张对血清总抗氧化能力（TAOC）和总硫醇分子（TTM）的潜在影响。
组织学结果显示，精索静脉曲张对TDI和RI有负面影响。所有精子形态参数均低于对照假手术组。所有试验组均出现严重且随时间加重的DNA损伤。精索静脉曲张显著降低了精索静脉曲张大鼠精子的体外受精能力。血清TAOC和TTM水平随时间下降。与左侧睾丸精索静脉曲张相比，右侧睾丸精索静脉曲张诱导的大鼠在所有研究参数上的损伤程度明显较轻。
我们的数据表明，实验诱导的精索静脉曲张以时间依赖的方式对精子成熟和染色质完整性产生负面影响。这进而导致体外受精能力显著降低。精索静脉曲张的有害作用可能归因于血清抗氧化能力的显著降低。
