Open Access

ARTICLE

Markers of accessory sex glands function in men with varicocele, relationship with seminal parameters

Giovanny Vivas-Acevedo¹, Ricardo Lozano-Hernandez¹, Maria I. Camejo²

1 Centro Diagnostico de Infertilidad y Enfermedades Geneticas, Merida, Venezuela
2 Universidad Simon Bolivar, Caracas, Venezuela
Address correspondence to Dr. Maria Isabel Camejo, Departamento de Biologia de Organismos, Universidad Simon Bolivar, Caracas 1080 A. Venezuela

Canadian Journal of Urology 2011, 18(5), 5884-5889.

Abstract

Introduction: Varicocele has been associated with decreased semen quality. However, little is known about the effect of varicocele on the function of the accessory sex glands. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship among varicocele, seminal parameters, and biochemical markers of accessory sex glands: neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG, epididymis), fructose (seminal vesicles), prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), and zinc (prostate).
Materials and methods: A clinical study was conducted in 190 men with varicocele and 100 normozoospermic men as the control group. Semen analysis, hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST), polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell count, fructose, zinc, PAP, and NAG levels were determined. Differences between groups were evaluated using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: The varicocele group showed significant decreases in sperm motility, normal morphology, HOST response, and sperm vitality. No differences were observed in fructose, PAP, or zinc levels between the control and varicocele groups. However, NAG activity was significantly decreased in the varicocele group. A positive correlation was found between fructose and PAP levels with semen volume, sperm concentration, PMN count, and zinc levels. Additionally, reduced NAG levels correlated with lower sperm morphology, motility, vitality, and HOST response.
Conclusions: Varicocele does not appear to alter fructose secretion by the seminal vesicles or PAP and zinc production by the prostate. However, it is associated with a decrease in NAG activity in seminal fluid, suggesting possible epididymal dysfunction that may contribute to impaired sperm quality.

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