Histopathological Evaluation of Testicular Tissue and Examination of Hormonal Changes Related to Infertility after Varicocele Induction in Adult Male Rats

Omid  Pishghadam; Seyedeh Ommolbanin  Ghasemian; Seyed Morteza Razaghi  Manesh

doi:10.18502/ssu.v34i3.21724

Omid Pishghadam Department of Veterinary, Sho.C., Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran.
Seyedeh Ommolbanin Ghasemian Department of Veterinary, Be.C., Islamic Azad University, Behbahan, Iran.
Seyed Morteza Razaghi Manesh Department of Veterinary, Sho.C., Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ssu.v34i3.21724

Keywords: Infertility, Varicocele, Sperm, Testis, Histopathology, Sex Hormones, Spermatogenesis.

Abstract

Introduction: Varicocele is the leading cause of reduced sperm production and quality, resulting in male infertility. This study aimed to investigate the histopathological changes in testicular tissue, levels of LH, FSH, and testosterone hormones, and sperm parameters –specifically viability, number, and motility– in adult male rats following the varicocele induction.

Methods: This fundamental laboratory study utilized 12 adults male Wistar rats, characterized by an age of 12 weeks and mean body weight of 160 grams. The samples were divided into two groups: control and experimental. Within the experimental group, varicocele was surgically induced in the left testicle through a procedure involving the left renal vein. Following a two-month period, specimens of blood, sperm, and testicular tissue were collected from both groups for testing. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS software (version 9.4; GLM procedure) alongside GraphPad Prism 10, with mean differences analyzed through the independent t-test.

Results: Data revealed that varicocele led to significant decline in testicular mass, where the mean testicular weight being 2.5 ± 0.3 g in the sham group compared to 0.5 ± 0.1 g in the varicocele group (P < 0.05). Additionally, sperm viability was reported as 8.5 ± 0.9% in the sham group and 4.5 ± 0.6% in the varicocele group (P < 0.05). Varicocele also significantly decreased sperm motility (P < 0.05). The LH hormone level increased in the varicocele group to 4.4 ± 0.2 IU/L compared to 3.9 ± 0.3 IU/L in the sham group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the FSH level was 10.3 ± 0.5 mIU/mL in the varicocele group versus 9.2 ± 0.4 mIU/mL in the sham group (P < 0.05). In contrast, testosterone levels significantly decreased in the varicocele group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, it is concluded that varicocele disrupts the quality and quantity of sperm and the coordination of sex hormones by causing disorders in the testicular tissue and cells responsible for spermatogenesis.