Varicocele decreases epididymal neutral α-glucosidase and is associated with alteration of nuclear DNA and plasma membrane in spermatozoa.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between a marker of epididymal function and both the fragmentation of the sperm nucleus and the integrity and maturity of the sperm membrane in patients with or without varicocele.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Semen samples were obtained from men with varicocele grades II and III (n = 60) and from a control group with zoospermia defined as normal (n = 30). Samples were evaluated by a spermiogram, a hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST), neutral α-glucosidase (NAG) enzyme activity, sperm hyaluronan-binding assay (HBA) and DNA fragmentation using a sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test.

RESULTS

Seminal plasma NAG levels, percentage of sperm bound to hyaluronic acid, HOST-positive cells and sperm quality were significantly lower in the varicocele compared with the control group. Higher levels of sperm DNA fragmentation, as measured by SCD, were also observed in the varicocele group compared with the control group. Seminal NAG activity levels showed a strong negative correlation with DNA fragmentation and a significant positive correlation with the HBA test and the HOST.

CONCLUSIONS

Varicocele causes a reduction in NAG activity by the epididymis that is associated with damage to both the membrane and sperm nucleus and a reduction in the seminal parameters. NAG levels were correlated with the quality of the sperm membrane and nucleus. Data suggest that a reduction of fertilization capacity in men during varicocele can result from damage to both the testis and the epididymis.