P-65: Nitrosative Stress, Lipid and Carbonyl Groups Peroxidations in Long Time-Induced Varicocele; Association with Sperms DNA Damage in Rats

Background: The pathophysiology of the varicocele has received considerable study, both in humans and in animal models. The sperm DNA damage and related oxidative stress have been identified as significant cause of male infertility. Present study was designed to evaluate the testicular nitric oxide (NO) generation, lipid and carbonyl groups (CGs) peroxidation and to analyze related sperm DNA damage in long time-experimentally varicocelized rats. Materials and Methods: To follow-up this study left varicocele was induced in test group (n=18). Non-varicocelized rats were considered as control-sham (n=6). The test group further sub-divided into three groups based on the termination of the study and sample collecting date (4, 6 and 8 months after varicocele induction). Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), NO and CGs were evaluated in testicular tissue. The sperm DNA fragmentation was assessed by commet assay and DNA laddering test was performed for DNA damage. Results: The NO, CGs and MDA levels significantly (p<0.05) increased in varicocele-induced rats in time-dependent manner. Accordingly the 8 months varicocelized rats showed remarkably elevated testicular NO, CGs and MDA levels. The sperm DNA fragmentation (delivered from commet assay) and double strand damage (From Laddering test) significantly (p<0.05) increased after 8 months following varicocele induction. Conclusion: The severe DNA damage of sperms in varicoceles relates to significant elevation in NO, CGs and MDA levels which impairs spermiogenesis. The results also indicate that the varicocele-induced nitrosative stress, lipid peroxidation and CGs significantly enhance depending on time. Ultimately the biochemical changes result in the varicocele-induced sperm DNA damage by the time.