title: Adolescent varicocele: improved sperm function after varicocelectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of varicocelectomy on sperm function (DNA integrity and mitochondrial activity) and levels of lipid peroxidation in seminal plasma of adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients recruited from a local public school.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents (14-19 years old), Tanner stages IV or V with varicocele grades II or III, attending a local public school.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two semen collections with a one week interval between collections before bilateral varicocele repair using subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy, and two semen collections with a one week interval between collections three months after the surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rate of sperm DNA fragmentation as assessed by the Comet assay and categorized as classes I (no DNA fragmentation) to IV (high DNA fragmentation). Rate of mitochondrial activity as assessed by the diaminobenzidine assay and categorized as grades I (all mitochondria active) to IV (all mitochondria inactive). Levels of lipid peroxidation in seminal plasma by a colorimetric method that quantifies a lipid peroxidation subproduct (malondialdehyde).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concerning DNA integrity, the samples after varicocelectomy showed more spermatozoa with intact nuclear DNA (grade I) and less spermatozoa with Comet grades II, III, and IV. Regarding mitochondrial activity, the samples after varicocelectomy showed less cells with inactive mitochondria (class III). No differences were observed in classes I, II, and IV. Concerning lipid peroxidation, no significant differences were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study was able to demonstrate that varicocelectomy in adolescents is associated with increased sperm DNA integrity and mitochondrial activity. However, levels of seminal products of lipid degradation (malondialdehyde) are not different.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Human Reproduction Section, Sao Paulo Federal University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jose Iran
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: Paula Toni
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
authors.forename: Barbara Ferreira
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Marcilio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nichi
authors.forename: Roberta Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fariello
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fraietta
authors.forename: Adriana Ester
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Restelli
authors.forename: Camile Garcia
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Blumer
authors.forename: Ricardo Pimenta
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bertolla
authors.forename: Agnaldo Pereira
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cedenho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004249:DNA Damage; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008315:Malondialdehyde