Surgical Repair versus Medical Treatment of Varicocele in the Rat: Pharmacological Manipulation of the Varicocelized Testicle

Effects of primary testicular damage on sperm DNA oxidative status and embryonic and foetal development

“…Group A rats (n = 40) were anaesthetised with intraabdominal Nembutal (25 mg/kg) as previously described (Sofikitis et al, 1992b). Partial left renal vein ligation was performed using the method of Saypol et al (1981), Hurt et al (1986); Sofikitis et al (1992b,c) at a point medial to the junction of the left renal vein with the adrenal and spermatic veins, so as to reduce the left renal vein to an external diameter of 1 mm (Saypol et al, 1981).…”

“…Additional mating studies were performed so that each male rat mated with different mature females in the first hours of oestrus (non-hormonally stimulated) (Sofikitis et al, 1992b). Each of the three females (mating studies-2; mating was confirmed by the presence of a copulatory plug) was checked for parturition three times daily from day 21.…”

Diagnosis, Evaluation and Treatment of Adolescent Varicocele

“…Stimulation of Sertoli cells with FSH reversed spermatogenesis arrest in experimental animal models. 67 Altered levels of serum inhibin found in patients with varicocele may reflect altered function of Sertoli cells. 68 Cameron et al noticed that the Sertoli-germ cell junctional complexes appeared to be structurally abnormal in patients with varicocele.…”

Improvement of Sexual Activity, Pregnancy Rate, and Low Plasma Testosterone After Bilateral Varicocelectomy in Impotence and Male Infertility Patients

“…In some patients with a varicocele, Sertoli cell responsiveness to FSH may be diminished due to altered endocrine status or increased temperature of the testis. Stimulation of Sertoli cell function in experimentally induced varicocele models results in improved semen parameters, suggesting that Sertoli cells function suboptimally in the experimental varicocele model [39]. Patients with varicocele have altered levels of serum inhibin, which is produced by Sertoli cells [32].…”