Elevation of both Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidant Enzymes in Vein Tissue of Infertile Men with Varicocele

OBJECTIVE: To compare reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in internal spermatic vein tissue of men with varicocele and a control group with inguinal hernia. Also to compare the levels of oxidants and antioxidants in infertile and fertile men with varicocele. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 48 varicocele patients and 12 non-varicocele inguinal hernia patients participated in this study. The varicocele group was again divided into two groups--fertile men with varicocele and infertile men with varicocele. Internal spermatic vein tissue samples were obtained. The level of the malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (defense systems) against oxidative stress such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were estimated in these tissue samples. RESULTS: The mean level of MDA in the varicocele group was significantly higher than in the hernia group, whereas the levels of antioxidants (SOD and CAT) were significantly lower in the varicocele group than in the hernia group. When compared with the subgroups of the varicocele group, the MDA levels and SOD and CAT activities were significantly higher in the infertile varicocele group than in the fertile varicocele group. CONCLUSIONS: Antioxidant enzyme levels generally decrease due to a high consumption in varicocele patients. On the contrary, in our study both MDA and antioxidant enzymes increased in the internal spermatic venous wall of infertile varicocele patients. This situation may be explained by an adaptation against oxidative stress in varicocele, which could be defined as a chronic process.