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Comparison of Before and After Varicocelectomy Levels of Trace Elements, Nitric Oxide, Asymmetric Dimethylarginine and Malondialdehyde in the Seminal Plasma and Peripheral and Spermatic Veins

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Abstract

Increased oxidative damage has been suggested to play an important role in the spermatogenesis and sperm function changes in patients with varicocele. However, changes in levels of nitric oxide (NO), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), malondialdehyde (MDA), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in blood and seminal plasma, and semen quality, are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the NO, ADMA, Fe, Cu, Zn and MDA levels from seminal plasma and peripheral and spermatic vein blood samples of patients with varicocele before and after varicocelectomy. In this before and after comparative study, 29 consecutive patients attending a training hospital in Tekirdag, Turkey, were recruited. MDA and NO levels were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The levels of ADMA were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Trace element level was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The levels of MDA in the seminal plasma and peripheral and spermatic vein samples were observed to decrease significantly in the comparison of before and after phases of the study group (p = 0.022, p = 0.001 and p = 0.034, respectively). Also, the levels of NO in the seminal plasma and spermatic vein samples decreased significantly in the comparison of before and after phases of the study group (p = 0.025 and p = 0.001, respectively), while the levels of ADMA in seminal plasma and spermatic vein samples increased significantly in the comparison of before and after phases of the study group (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in the levels of trace elements and sperm count (p > 0.05). Oxidative stress is significantly higher in the spermatic vein and seminal plasma samples of patients with varicocele before varicocelectomy. In conclusion, these events may be evaluated accordingly for the potentially beneficial treatment methods.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by The Research Fund of Namik Kemal University (Project Number NKUBAP.00.20.AR.12.06). This study was also presented in the Annual Meeting of the German Biophysical Society (DGfB) that took place on 14–17 September 2014 in the University of Lübeck, Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey

    Ali Riza Kiziler

  2. Department of Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey

    Birsen Aydemir

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey

    Savas Guzel & Ayse Acar

  4. Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey

    Cenk Murat Yazici

  5. Department of Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey

    Tevfik Gulyasar

  6. Department of Urology, Corlu Military Hospital, Tekirdag, Turkey

    Ercan Malkoc

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  1. Ali Riza Kiziler
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  2. Birsen Aydemir
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  3. Savas Guzel
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  4. Cenk Murat Yazici
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  5. Tevfik Gulyasar
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  6. Ercan Malkoc
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  7. Ayse Acar
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Correspondence to Ali Riza Kiziler.

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Kiziler, A.R., Aydemir, B., Guzel, S. et al. Comparison of Before and After Varicocelectomy Levels of Trace Elements, Nitric Oxide, Asymmetric Dimethylarginine and Malondialdehyde in the Seminal Plasma and Peripheral and Spermatic Veins. Biol Trace Elem Res 167, 172–178 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0303-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0303-x

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