title: Sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial activity in men with varicocele.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the impact of varicocele on semen quality and sperm function (DNA integrity and mitochondrial activity).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in an academic research environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients with a clinical diagnosed varicocele of grade II or III and 20 men without a varicocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rate of sperm DNA fragmentation as assessed by the Comet assay and categorized as classes I (no DNA fragmentation), II (little DNA fragmentation), III (meaningful DNA fragmentation), and IV (high DNA fragmentation). Rate of mitochondrial activity as assessed by the diaminobenzidine (DAB) assay and categorized as grades I (all mitochondria active), II (most mitochondria active), III (most mitochondria inactive), and IV (all mitochondria inactive).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were found between the study and control groups with respect to age, ejaculatory abstinence, and round cell count. Men with varicocele had significantly higher ejaculate volume, concentration of immotile sperm, and neutrophil count and lower mean percentage of sperm concentration, progressive motility, and morphology than men in the control group. The study group presented a lower percentage of sperm with little DNA fragmentation (class II) and a higher percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation (class IV). In addition, the study group presented a greater percentage of sperm with inactive mitochondria (class III).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with men without varicocele, men with varicocele had a higher percentage of cells with DNA fragmentation and sperm with inactive mitochondria. Indeed, varicocele causes a decrease in motility, concentration, and morphology and an increase in volume and concentration of immotile sperm and neutrophils. The sperm functional evaluation (DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial activity) could be important factors in deciding treatment options for men with varicocele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo, Brazil. cablumer@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Camile Garcia
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Blumer
authors.forename: Roberta Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fariello
authors.forename: Adriana Ester
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Restelli
authors.forename: Deborah Montagnini
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Spaine
authors.forename: Ricardo Pimenta
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bertolla
authors.forename: Agnaldo Pereira
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cedenho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D048430:Cell Shape; D020552:Comet Assay; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology