title: Influence of microsurgical varicocelectomy on human sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is good evidence to show that varicocele repair can improve conventional sperm parameters, as well as, sperm DNA integrity, in infertile men with a clinical varicocele.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of varicocelectomy on sperm quality, specifically, sperm nuclear chromatin integrity and sperm mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study done between March 2007 and January 2008. We evaluated a consecutive series of infertile men (n = 14) presenting to Ovo clinic with one year or more history of infertility, a clinically palpable varicocele and poor motility (<25 % rapid progressive and <50 % progressive).
  
  
  METHODS
  Microsurgical sub-inguinal varicocelectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Conventional sperm parameters, sperm mtDNA copy number (by real time PCR) and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) parameters (%DFI,% HDS) before and 4 months after microsurgical varicocelectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm concentration and SCSA parameters (%DFI and %HDS) improved significantly after surgery (P < 0.05). Sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number decreased significantly after surgery (27 ± 30 to 9 ± 6 copies per sperm, respectively, P = 0.032). There was a significant negative correlation between mitochondrial DNA copy number and sperm motility (r = - 0.71, P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the concept that correction of a varicocele can improve spermatogenesis and sperm function, as mitochondrial DNA copy number has been suggested to reflect the efficiency of spermatogenesis and has been inversely related to sperm motility.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Maria San
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: Sam W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Naif
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alhathal
authors.forename: Junjian Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zini
mesh_terms: D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000379:methods*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial