Is there a specific abnormality of sperm morphology in men with varicoceles?
With the use of a case-control design, we have studied seminal cytology in 53 infertile men with large left varicoceles to determine whether they had a specific morphologic pattern. An equal number of infertile controls without varicoceles were matched for characteristics such as left testicular size, serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels, and sperm concentration to ensure similar degrees of testicular dysfunction. No significant difference in the morphologic patterns was observed, especially in the hallmarks of the "stress pattern": increased percentages of spermatozoa with tapering heads (1.8 +/- 2.6:1.9 +/- 4.0) and immature forms (8.1 +/- 5.4:6.4 +/- 2.9) in the varicocele and control groups, respectively. Assessment of morphologic characteristics was associated with wide errors (approximately 20% to 80%) among technicians working in the same laboratory. There does not appear to be a characteristic morphologic stress pattern in infertile men with large left varicoceles.
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Ayodeji
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Baker
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology*; D013079:Sperm Maturation; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013737:Testis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014646:Varicocele / Q000503:physiopathology*