SEMINAL PLASMA NITRIC OXIDE CONCENTRATION IN OLIGO- AND/OR ASTHENOZOOSPERMIC SUBJECTS WITH/WITHOUT VARICOCELE

• Published in: Archives of andrology Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 181 - 185
• Main Authors: Aksoy, Y., Özbey, I., Aksoy, H., Polat, Ö., Akçay, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Informa UK Ltd 2002; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adult; Asthenozoospermia; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Oligospermia - etiology; Oligospermia - metabolism; Oligospermia - pathology; Oligozoospermia; Semen - metabolism; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility - physiology; Sterility. Assisted procreation; Varicocele; Varicocele - complications; Varicocele - metabolism; Varicocele - pathology; Human; Varicocele; Semen; Nitric oxide; Male sterility; Seminal plasma; Asthenospermia; Male genital diseases; Semen disorders; Testicular diseases; Oligospermia
• DOI: 10.1080/01485010252869261
• ISSN: 0955-3002; 0148-5016

There is an inverse correlation between seminal plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentration and sperm parameters (motility and concentration) in patients with varicocele. This study investigated whether this occurs in patients with oligo- and/or asthenozoospermia due to causes other than varicocele. A total of 69 (19 with varicocele and oligo- and/or asthenozoospermia [group 1], 30 from oligo- and/or asthenozoospermic ones without varicocele [group 2], and 20 from healthy subjects [control group]) semen samples were analyzed. While group 1 had a significantly higher NO concentration in the seminal plasma compared to both the control group and group 2, there was no significant difference between group 2 and the control group ( p >.05). In group 1, but not in the other groups, there was an inverse correlation between the seminal plasma NO concentration and sperm motility and concentration. NO production could be specifically related to the varicocele, since NO production in oligo- and/or asthenozoospermia cases without varicocele is not increased.