title: Significant alterations of serum hormone levels in the spermatic vein plexus of patients with varicoceles.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of hormone variation between the peripheral blood and spermatic vein plexus in patients with varicoceles. A total of 23 patients diagnosed with varicoceles were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent a testicular artery-sparing microsurgical varicocelectomy. During the operation, a blood sample from the ipsilateral spermatic vein plexus and a peripheral blood sample were collected. A radioimmunoassay was performed to determine the total testosterone, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and oestradiol levels. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the albumin level. The mean age of the patients was 32.3 ± 9.3 years. Compared with the hormone level in the peripheral blood, the total testosterone, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and oestrogen levels were significantly increased in the left or right spermatic vein plexus (P < 0.05). There were no differences in the albumin levels in the peripheral blood and spermatic vein plexus (P > 0.05). The mean total testosterone, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and oestradiol levels in the left spermatic vein plexus were 10.8-fold, 29.0-fold, 2.0-fold, and 26.6-fold those of the peripheral blood. The hormone concentration in the spermatic vein plexus was significantly higher than that in the peripheral blood in patients with varicoceles.
authors: Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Han
authors: Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors: X-G
authors: XG
authors: Zhou
authors: Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors: X-S
authors: XS
authors: Qian
authors: Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors: S-J
authors: SJ
authors: Feng
authors: Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Tian
authors: Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors: X-D
authors: XD
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000098:blood supply; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D000067369:Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014646:Varicocele / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Dihydrotestosterone; microsurgical; testosterone; varicocele