Evaluation of Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Infertile Men with Varicocele |Biomedgrid

Although the pathophysiology of the testicular damage associated with varicocele remains unclear, sperm DNA damage has been identified as a potential explanation for this cause of male infertility. The current study was designed to determine the extent of sperm nuclear DNA damage in patients with varicocele, and to examine its relationship with parameters of seminal motility. Semen samples from 50 patients with clinical varicocele and 30 infertile men without varicocele were examined. Varicocele sperm samples were classified as normal or pathological according to the 1999 World Health Organization guidelines. Sperm DNA damage was evaluated using the Halo sperm kit, an improved Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) test. The DNA fragmentation index (DFI: percentage of sperm with denatured nuclei) values was significantly higher in patients with varicocele, either with normal or abnormal (DFI 23.5±3.2 vs 13.4±2.4-P<0,01) semen profiles. Varicocele is associated with high levels of DNA-fragmentation in spermatozoa. In addition, in subjects with varicocele, abnormal spermatozoa motility is associated with higher levels of sperm DNA fragmentation. DNA fragmentation may therefore be an essential additional diagnostic test that should be recommended for patients with clinical varicocele.