Effects of epidermal growth factor on sperm content and motility of rats with surgically induced varicoceles.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the sperm content and motility of the varicocelized rats.


METHODS
Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Experimental varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in the varicocele, the varicocele repair, the varicocele with EGF and the varicocele repair with EGF groups, whereas the control group only received a sham induction of varicocele. Surgical repair of varicocele was performed 4 months later in the varicocele repair and varicocele repair with EGF groups. EGF administration was performed daily by s.c. injection in the varicocele with EGF and varicocele repair with EGF groups at the dose of 10 microg/(kg.day) from the next day of the second surgery. One month later, all animals were killed and bilateral cauda epididymal sperm counts and motility were evaluated.


RESULTS
The mean sperm count and percentage of motile spermatozoa were significantly higher bilaterally in the varicocele with EGF group than in the varicocele group (P < 0.05). They were also significantly higher bilaterally in the varicocele repair with EGF group than in the varicocele repair and the varicocele with EGF groups (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
EGF can improve bilateral epididymal sperm content and motility of the rat with surgically induced varicocele. The administration of EGF in combination with surgical repair is more effective than surgical repair or EGF administration alone. EGF might be useful for the treatment of infertility induced by varicocele.
Cheng
Dong
D
Research Center of Uro-logy and Andrology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
Zheng
Xin-Min
XM
Li
Shi-Wen
SW
Yang
Zhi-Wei
ZW
Hu
Li-Quan
LQ
D000818:Animals; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000503:physiopathology*
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor