Sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation in adolescents with varicocele.
OBJECTIVE
To verify if sperm from adolescents with varicocele have an increased rate of DNA fragmentation when compared with adolescents without varicocele.


METHODS
Controlled prospective study.


METHODS
Patients in an academic research environment.


METHODS
Adolescent patients with a clinical diagnosed bilateral varicocele, grades II and III, and adolescent patients without a varicocele.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Rate of sperm DNA fragmentation as assessed by the Comet assay, graded as class I (no DNA fragmentation), II (little DNA fragmentation), III (meaningful DNA fragmentation), or IV (high DNA fragmentation).


RESULTS
A higher percentage of cells with no DNA fragmentation (class I) was found in the nonvaricocele group (47.62 +/- 7.69) when compared with the varicocele group (27.52 +/- 10.73). A higher percentage of sperm with class III and class IV DNA fragmentation was found in the varicocele group (20.43 +/- 8.97, and 19.57 +/- 10.68) when compared with the nonvaricocele group (11.38 +/- 5.55, and 5.71 +/- 2.35).


CONCLUSIONS
Although standard semen analysis showed no difference between the groups, adolescents with varicocele have an increase in sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation. Thus, DNA fragmentation evaluation could be important in deciding treatment options for adolescent patients.
Bertolla
Ricardo Pimenta
RP
Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo Hospital, Brazil. rbertolla@yahoo.com
Cedenho
Agnaldo Pereira
AP
Hassun Filho
Pericles Assad
PA
Lima
Samira Barbosa
SB
Ortiz
Valdemar
V
Srougi
Miguel
M
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002467:Cell Nucleus; D020552:Comet Assay; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014646:Varicocele / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology