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The cofactor effect: varicocele and infertility
B C Peng1, P Tomashefsky, H M Nagler
1Department of Urology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Fertility and Sterility
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Varicocele may contribute to male infertility by acting as a cofactor, especially when combined with gonadotoxins like nicotine. This study supports the cofactor hypothesis in varicocele pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Urology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Varicocele is a common cause of male infertility with unpredictable effects.
- The pathophysiology of varicocele-induced infertility is not fully understood.
- A cofactor hypothesis suggests varicocele potentiates other factors to cause infertility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of varicocele as a cofactor in male infertility.
- To assess the combined effects of varicocele and gonadotoxins on spermatogenesis.
- To test the cofactor hypothesis of varicocele pathophysiology.
Main Methods:
- Male rats were assigned to experimental varicocele, sham surgery, or control groups.
- Animals were treated with cyclophosphamide or nicotine (gonadotoxins) for 30 days.
- Spermatogenesis was quantitatively assessed using flow cytometry.
Main Results:
- Cyclophosphamide induced gonadotoxicity, exacerbated by varicocele or sham surgery.
- Nicotine combined with varicocele demonstrated greater gonadotoxicity than either alone.
- The synergistic effect of varicocele and nicotine supports the cofactor hypothesis.
Conclusions:
- Varicocele may act as a cofactor, potentiating the effects of gonadotoxins.
- The combination of varicocele and certain gonadotoxins significantly impairs spermatogenesis.
- Findings support the cofactor hypothesis in the context of varicocele-related male infertility.