Pathophysiology of varicocele: evidence for oxidative stress as a mechanism pathway

• Autores: Linus C. Saalu, Gabriel Akunna, Linus A. Enye, Oluwaseyi S. Ogunmodede, Adebanji M. Akingbade
• Localización: European Journal of anatomy, ISSN-e 1136-4890, Vol. 17, Nº. 2, 2013, págs. 82-91
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • There has never been an unswerving animal model for the study of varicocele; neither has a stable result been obtained. This has been as a result of personal interpretation of venous anatomical differences between human and rat models. Although the pathogenesis of varicocele remains uncertain, there is a growing body of data implicating hyperthermia, venous pressure, testicular blood flow, hormonal imbalance, toxic substances, and reactive oxygen species.The present study established the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of varicocele using animal models. Four groups of rats were used, the first group served as the control, while the second, third and fourth groups of rats were varicocelized. The third and fourth group, in addition, had intraperitoneal and intramuscular treatment of 20 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg body weight of zinc chloride and alpha-tocopherol respectively. Fifty six days after, testicular weights and volumes, histology, morphometry, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were evaluated.Result showed that the testes of varicocelized models treated with antioxidants had better oxidative status, geometric values and histological profiles compared to the untreated varicocelized models. These results indicated and validated the role of reactive oxygen in the pathogenesis of varicocele.