Seminal plasma reactive oxygen species-antioxidants relationship with varicocele grade

This work aimed to assess seminal plasma reactive oxygen species (ROS)-antioxidants relationship with varicocele grade in infertile men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). The study included 89 infertile OAT men with varicocele divided into grade I (n = 22) and grade II (n = 43), grade III (n = 24) and compared with 20 healthy fertile controls. In their seminal plasma, two ROS parameters (malondialdehyde [MDA], hydrogen peroxide [H(2) O(2) ]) and four antioxidants (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [Cat], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], vit.C) were estimated. There was significant increase in seminal MDA, H(2) O(2) and significant decrease in seminal SOD, Cat, GPx, vit.C in varicocele-associated OAT cases when compared with the controls. Compared with grade I cases, varicocele cases with grades II, III demonstrated significant increase in estimated seminal MDA, H(2) O(2) and significant decrease in seminal SOD, Cat, GPx, vit.C. It is concluded that seminal oxidative stress (OS) is related to increased varicocele grade in infertile OAT men associated with varicocele.