Altered serum profile of inhibin B, Pro-alphaC and anti-Müllerian hormone in prepubertal and pubertal boys with varicocele.
OBJECTIVE
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B are reliable markers of Sertoli cell function. The aim of the present study was to assess the functional state of Sertoli cells in order to detect early changes in the testicular function of prepubertal and pubertal patients with untreated grade II or III varicocele.


METHODS
Seven prepubertal and 55 pubertal boys with untreated grade II or III varicocele were studied. Seven prepubertal and 43 pubertal normal boys were considered as controls.


METHODS
Serum levels of gonadotrophins, testosterone, inhibin B and Pro-alphaC and AMH were determined by time-resolved immunofluorometric assays, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), respectively.


RESULTS
Inhibin B and Pro-alphaC serum levels were higher in prepubertal patients with varicocele than in controls (P < 0.001). No further increment in inhibin B and Pro-alphaC levels was observed in pubertal patients with varicocele. Higher levels of AMH were found in patients in Tanner stages I, III, IV and V when compared to normal boys by Tanner stage (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.001, respectively). The direct correlation found in normal boys between inhibin B levels and LH, testosterone and testicular volume was not observed in patients with varicocele.


CONCLUSIONS
The altered serum profile of gonadal hormones observed in untreated prepubertal and pubertal patients with varicocele may indicate an early abnormal regulation of the seminiferous epithelium function.
Trigo
Romina V
RV
Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas (CEDIE), Hospital de Niños R. Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Bergadá
Ignacio
I
Rey
Rodolfo
R
Ballerini
María G
MG
Bedecarrás
Patricia
P
Bergadá
César
C
Gottlieb
Silvia
S
Campo
Stella
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood*; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014646:Varicocele / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D006023:Glycoproteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D013735:Testicular Hormones; C422364:inhibin B; C095971:inhibin-alpha subunit precursor; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone