Pathophysiology of varicocele in nonhuman primates: long-term seminal and testicular changes.
Varicocele was surgically induced in monkeys to study the long-term effects of the condition on seminal and testicular parameters. Sperm motility was depressed but improved after varicocelectomy. Sperm concentration was less affected, but sperm morphology showed long-term degenerative changes, i.e., for more than 2 years. Testicular blood flow was depressed acutely but returned to normal after 2 years. Electron microscopy showed changes in the basal lamina and spermatogonia that persisted throughout the study. Left adrenalectomy, at the time of varicocele induction, did not alter the development of varicocele-related changes. The sequence of changes suggests that the effects of this experimental varicocele may be reversed in the monkey model through changes in collateral and ancillary revascularization.
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000032:analysis*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology