The cofactor effect: varicocele and infertility

• Published in: Fertility and sterility Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 143 - 148
• Main Authors: Peng, Benjamin C.H., Tomashefsky, Philip, Nagler, Harris M.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.1990; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cyclophosphamide - pharmacology; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Infertility, Male - etiology; Infertility, Male - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Nicotine - pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Spermatogenesis - drug effects; Toxicity: urogenital system; Varicocele - complications; Varicocele - physiopathology; Varicocele; Vertebrata; Experimental disease; Mammalia; Rat; Spermatogenesis; Toxicity; Animal; Rodentia; Immunosuppressive agent; Male genital diseases; Nicotine
• ISSN: 0015-0282; 1556-5653
• DOI: 10.1016/S0015-0282(16)53651-6

The varicocele may be a cofactor that, when potentiated by other cofactors (i.e., gonadotoxins), causes male infertility. This hypothesis could explain the unpredictable effects of the varicocele on fertility. Male rats with experimental varicoceles, sham surgery, or no surgery were treated for 30days with the known gonadotoxins cyclophosphamide or nicotine. Spermatogenesis was assessed by flow cytometry. Cyclophosphamide alone caused gonadotoxicity, and its effect was accentuated by sham or varicocele surgery. Nicotine and the presence of a varicocele were more gonadotoxic than either the varicocele or nicotine by itself. This data would lend support to the cofactor hypothesis of the pathophysiology of the varicocele.