Source of reactive oxygen species in varicocele patients

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) may play a crucial role in development of inf ertility and therefore also in varicocele patients. There have been previou s investigations concerning ROS generation in seminal plasma but the signif icance of their generation is questionable. In view of the possible contrib ution of ROS in infertility, we tried to locate another source in varicocel e patients, who often have associated infertility. 18 male patients with le ft sided varicocele and a mean age of 23 years were examined. Blood samples were drawn from the cubital vein and the dilated vena spermatica intraoper atively. ROS were determined by HPLC measurement of the malondialdehyde-thi obarbituric acid adduct. In all patients the ROS levels in the vena spermat ica were significantly higher than in the cubital vein (P < 0.0001). We con clude that the source of ROS generation in varicocele patients is the dilat ed vena spermatica, with a subsequent rise in ROS level in the seminal plas ma due to reduced blood flow. Med Sci Res 27:677-679 (C) 1999 Lippincott Wi lliams & Wilkins.