Molecular mechanisms involved in varicocele-associated infertility. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Varicocele is a pathologic enlargement of the pampiniform venous plexus within the spermatic cord, a condition that is a common cause of impaired sperm production and decreased quality of sperm. While varicocele is the most common surgically correctable risk factor for male infertility, not all males with varicocele experience infertility. In fact, most men with varicocele have normal spermatogenesis. Despite its prevalence, the molecular mechanisms of varicocele and its effect on testicular function are yet to be completely understood. We postulate that men with varicocele-associated infertility could have preexisting genetic lesions or defects in molecular mechanisms that make them more susceptible to varicocele-mediated testicular injury affecting spermatogenesis.

publication date

  • March 19, 2014

Research

keywords

  • Infertility, Male
  • Varicocele

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC4016365

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84901274192

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.07.976

PubMed ID

  • 24643631

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 31

issue

  • 5