title: Evaluation of acrosome reactivity using the Acrobeads test in varicocele patients: findings before and after treatment.
abstract: The Acrobeads test was performed on semen samples from 43 patients with varicocele before and after varicocelectomy. Sperm motility significantly increased after surgery (p <.05), while sperm concentration and motile sperm concentration did not alter postoperatively. Sperm motion analysis using CellSoft 3000 did not demonstrate a significant change after treatment. Acrobeads score significantly increased after the procedure (p<.005). Pregnancy was achieved in 10 patients (28%). Acrobeads score in cases that achieved pregnancy was increased postoperatively (p<.005). The percentage of patients with a postoperative increase in Acrobeads score in the group that achieved pregnancy was significantly higher than that observed in the unsuccessful group (p <.05). Sperm parameters other than the Acrobeads score did not show a significant difference between the successful and unsuccessful patients. The Acrobeads test assessed postoperatively can be useful in precisely evaluating fertility potential after varicocele repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sugitani, Toyama, Japan. fuse@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fuse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikehara-Kawauchi
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D013081:Sperm Motility; D014646:Varicocele / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery