Cytosolic calcium levels in spermatozoa are modulated differently in healthy subjects and patients with varicocele.
OBJECTIVE
To study parameters connected to fertility in the semen of patients with varicocele.


METHODS
We examine the ability of spermatozoa obtained from patients with varicocele to respond with an increase of cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) to some stimuli that are connected with spermatozoa activation.


METHODS
An academic research environment.


METHODS
Ten healthy volunteer donors and 10 patients affected by II or III grade left varicocele.


METHODS
Spermatozoa and prostasomes (vesicles of prostatic origin obtained from semen) were prepared according to standard procedures. Spermatozoa were stimulated with 1 microM P. The [Ca2+]i was evaluated with the FURA II method.


METHODS
The level of [Ca2+]i.


RESULTS
In resting cells, the level of [Ca2+]i was 120 +/-15 nmol/L (10 determinations). This value increases by > or =100 nmol/L upon stimulation with P. No difference was observed between spermatozoa obtained from healthy donors or from patients with varicocele. S-nitrosocysteine, a nitric oxide donor, and the fusion between spermatozoa and prostasomes increased the effect of P on [Ca2+]i in control spermatozoa but not in spermatozoa obtained from patients with varicocele.


CONCLUSIONS
Different responsiveness of varicocele patients' spermatozoa to S-nitrosocysteine and/or to fusion with prostasomes may be among the possible causes of reduced fertility.
Zucchi
Alessandro
A
Urologic and Andrologic Clinic, Policlinico Monteluce, Perugia, Italy.
Mearini
Ettore
E
Porena
Massimo
M
Carlini
Enrico
E
Saccardi
Carla
C
Arienti
Giuseppe
G
Palmerini
Carlo A
CA
D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D026403:S-Nitrosothiols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D026403:S-Nitrosothiols; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C021315:S-nitrosocysteine; D003545:Cysteine; D002118:Calcium