Quantitative evaluation of testicular biopsies before and after operation for varicocele

Testicular biopsies and semen samples were examined before and approximately 1 year after operation for varicocele in 39 men. Two men were excluded because of Sertoli-cell-only syndrome. Of the remaining 37, 22 were operated upon for infertility. The testicular biopsies were quantitated with the score count method. The operation for varicocele significantly improved the testicular tissue. THe numbers of tubuli obtaining a high score increased and the biopsy mean scores also increased significantly. However, few testes became perfectly normal. The duration or the size of the varicocele apparently has little effect upon the state of the testicular tissue or the change in it after operation.