Total antioxidant capacity in patients with varicoceles.
OBJECTIVE
To explore a possible molecular defect linked to infertility, studying total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of seminal plasma in varicocele (VAR).


METHODS
Case-series study.


METHODS
Volunteers in an academic research environment and out-patients in clinical service.


METHODS
Twenty-five VAR patients (9 oligospermic and 16 normospermic) vs 24 non-VAR controls (7 subjects with idiopathic oligospermia and 17 normospermic subjects).


METHODS
Evaluation of seminal plasma TAC.


METHODS
TAC was measured using myoglobin, as a source of radicals, which interact with a chromogen 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS), whose radical cation is spectroscopically detectable. The latency phase (Lag) in the accumulation of ABTS cation is proportional to antioxidant concentration.


RESULTS
Lag showed significantly greater values in the all VAR patients vs non-VAR subjects. Oligospermic-VAR patients showed the greatest values. Lag and sperm motility significantly correlated in VAR normospermic patients. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) showed significant inverse association with Lag in same group.


CONCLUSIONS
The augmented Lag values could indicate an ineffective utilization of antioxidants in oligospermic-VAR, while in normo-VAR the direct correlation between TAC and motility suggest a potential protective role toward sperm motility. In the same group, the inverse correlation with FSH suggests that greater FSH levels induce a better utilization of antioxidants by spermatozoa.
Meucci
Elisabetta
E
Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Milardi
Domenico
D
Mordente
Alvaro
A
Martorana
Giuseppe Ettore
GE
Giacchi
Elena
E
De Marinis
Laura
L
Mancini
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants; D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone