title: Seminal BAX and BCL2 gene and protein expressions in infertile men with varicocele.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess seminal BAX and BCL2 gene and protein expressions in infertile men with varicocele (Vx).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 111 men were investigated and divided into the following groups: healthy fertile men (n = 20), fertile men with Vx (n = 16), infertile oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men without Vx (n = 29), and infertile oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men with Vx (n = 46). They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and semen analysis. In their seminal plasma, BAX and BCL2 gene and protein expressions were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean level of seminal BAX gene and protein was significantly decreased, and the mean level of seminal BCL2 gene and protein was significantly increased in fertile men compared with fertile men with Vx and in infertile men without Vx compared with infertile men with Vx. The mean level of seminal BAX gene and protein were significantly increased in men associated with bilateral Vx compared with men associated with unilateral Vx and in cases with Vx grade III compared with Vx grade I and II cases. Seminal BAX demonstrated significant negative correlation with sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm normal forms. Seminal BCL2 demonstrated significant positive correlation with sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm normal forms and significant negative correlation with seminal BAX.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seminal BAX is significantly increased and seminal BCL2 is significantly decreased in men associated with Vx. Seminal BAX is significantly increased in men associated with bilateral Vx compared with unilateral Vx and in cases with Vx grade III compared with Vx grade I and II cases. Seminal BAX demonstrates significant negative correlation with sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm normal forms, whereas seminal BCL2 demonstrates significant reverse positive correlations.
authors.affiliation: Andrology and Sexology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: taymour1155@link.net.
authors.forename: Taymour
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mostafa
authors.affiliation: Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rashed
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nashaat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nabil
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rania
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein