[Spermatological and histological findings in patients with varicocele (author's transl)]

In 31 patients with unilateral idiopathic varicocele it was sought to correlate spermiogram and morphology of testis, particularly germinative epithelium, interstitial connective tissue and blood vessels. In both testes of all of 12 patients with pathological sperm striking morphological changes were found, from depletion of germinative cells to Sertoli-cell-only syndrome and including fibrosis of the interstitial tissue, reduction and occasionally diffuse or nodular hyperplasia of the Leydig cells as well as typical vascular changes. Due to alterations to the vascular walls the germinative epithelium had degenerated, this accounting for sub- and infertility, In the prophylaxis of fertility disturbances, the findings indicate that the same aspects apply to both varicocele and undecended testis.