Studies on plasma endothelin changes in varicocele patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible role endothelin may play in the pathogenesis of varicocele and varicocele-induced infertility.


METHODS
In varicocele patients, radioimmunoassay is used to determine the blood endothelin concentration in the spermatic vein and the antecubital vein separately.


RESULTS
The blood endothelin concentration of the spermatic vein (66.8 +/- 23.5 pg/mL) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the antecubital vein (55.3 +/- 25.3 pg/mL). The endothelin concentration in the spermatic vein in Grade II varicocele patients was not significantly different from that in Grade III patients (P = 0.87).


CONCLUSIONS
The higher blood endothelin level in the spermatic vein may indicate the involvement of endothelin in the pathophysiology of varicocele and varicocele-induced infertility.
Xu
Q Q
QQ
Department of Urology, People's Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100011, China.
Zhu
J C
JC
Jiang
H
H
Wang
X F
XF
Hou
S K
SK
Liu
Q L
QL
D000328:Adult; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014646:Varicocele / Q000097:blood*
D016232:Endothelins