Increased nitric oxide production in the spermatic vein of patients with varicocele.

Abstract

To define the level of nitric oxide (NO) in the spermatic vein of patients with varicocele and its relation with male infertility. Following physical and color Doppler ultrasonographic examination, whole blood samples were drawn from a peripheral vein and a dilated varicocele vein from fourteen patients with clinically palpable varicocele (G2-3) before ligation. NO levels in the serum were determined as total nitrite by Greiss reaction and results were compared with Mann-Whitney U test. NO levels in the internal spermatic vein were 36.05 +/- 8. 92 micromol/l, compared to 19.41 +/- 4.12 micromol/l in the peripheral vein and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). In view of our results, increased NO levels in the dilated varicocele vein might be responsible for spermatozoa dysfunction.