Further studies on testicular lipids and glycogen in human patients with unilateral varicocele.

In the present study the lipid and glycogen content of human testis in patients with unilateral varicocele is presented. Eight cases were taken for the present study. Testicular biopsy specimens taken from these patients were analyzed and the normal testis acted as control groups. There was marked increase in total lipids, ester cholesterol and glycerides in the testis of varicocele patients. The abnormal increase observed in estercholesterol may be due to non-utilization of cholesterol esters for androgen biosynthesis. The glycogen level was reduced significantly in the affected testis. Thus, varicocele seem to alter the availability of substrates of energy required for normal functioning of germinal and non-germinal cells which results in defective spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis.