A Study of Internal Spermatic Vein Cortisol in Patients with Varicocele

Lee, Jong Kook; Kim, Se Joong

Abstract

Although it is generally accepted that varicocele is a major cause of male infertility, the mechanism by which varicocele exerts its deleterious effect on spermatogenesis still remains obscure. So, to elucidate the cause of infertility that is the result of varicocele, cortisol levels in the internal spermatic vein blood samples were compared with those of the peripheral vein blood samples from 20 patients with varicocele. In 14 of the 20 patients, cortisol levels were found to be lower in the internal spermatic vein blood than in the peripheral vein blood. In the other 6 patients, cortisol levels were higher in the internal spermatic vein blood. However, no significant differences were observed between the concentrations in the internal spermatic vein (13.12+/-12.12 microgram/dl) and those in the peripheral vein (13.89+/-9.94 microgram/dl) of all cases. Therefore it seems unlikely that testicular dysfunction in patients with varicocele is caused by reflux of adrenal venous blood with toxic metabolites into the internal spermatic vein.