Increased total antioxidant capacity in seminal plasma of varicocele patients: a multivariate analysis.
To investigate seminal antioxidant systems and their correlation with hormonal pattern in varicocele patients, we studied 33 varicocele (VAR) patients (12 oligozoospermic, 21 normozoospermic) and 34 non-VARs (10 idiopathic oligozoospermic, 24 normozoospermic). Non-enzymatic total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured using H(2)O(2)-metamyoglobin, which generates the radical form, spectroscopically detectable, of the chromogen 2,2',-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate (ABTS): time till appearance (Lag) of ABTS*(-) signifies antioxidant concentration. Lag was significantly longer in VARs than controls suggesting ineffective utilization of antioxidants. A significant direct correlation (r = 0.65, p < 0.01) of Lag with sperm count was observed in non-VARs, while in VARs it was inverted, as well as with hematic FSH levels. A multivariate analysis including FSH, Lag, progressive spermatozoa, oligozoospermia and varicocele indicated a strong inverse correlation between FSH and motility (r(2) = 0.31, p > F = 0.0007), not modified by Lag (r(2) = 0.31, p > F = 0.002). Their inverse correlation with Lag may suggest that higher FSH levels, improving sperm antioxidant efficiency, counterbalance varicocele-induced dyspermia.
Mancini
Antonio
A
Institute of Internal Medicine, Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. mancini.giac@mclink.it
Milardi
Domenico
D
Bianchi
Antonio
A
Festa
Roberto
R
Silvestrini
Andrea
A
De Marinis
Laura
L
Pontecorvi
Alfredo
A
Meucci
Elisabetta
E
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012016:Reference Values; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013076:Sperm Count; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014646:Varicocele / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D000975:Antioxidants