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Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 1, 26-29, January 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Preliminary report on nitric oxide-mediated oxidative damage in adolescent varicocele

C. Romeo1,3, R. Ientile2, P. Impellizzeri1, N. Turiaco1, M. Teletta2, P. Antonuccio1, M. Basile1 and C. Gentile1

1 Department of Medical and Surgical Pediatric Sciences, Pediatric Surgery Unit, University of Messina and 2 Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, University of Messina, Italy 3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche Mediche e Chirurgiche, Unità di Chirurgia Pediatrica, Policlinico Universitario, Viale Gazzi, 98124 Messina, Italy. e-mail: romeoc{at}unime.it

BACKGROUND: The current study was designed to characterize the process of nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite generation through the determination of nitrotyrosine concentration in the dilated veins of varicoceles in adolescents. METHODS: Ten adolescents with a median age of 13 years (range 12–17) affected by a left idiopathic varicocele (grade II and III) were studied. Whole blood samples were withdrawn from a peripheral vein at time of induction of anaesthesia, and from a dilated spermatic vein before ligation. Peripheral blood samples from five adolescents undergoing minor surgical procedures were used as controls. The nitrotyrosine concentration was evaluated by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using a monoclonal anti-nitrotyrosine antibody and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Plasma nitrotyrosine concentrations were significantly greater in the spermatic vein when compared with the peripheral vein (P = 0.031). Nitrotyrosine in plasma of controls did not show any significant difference in comparison with peripheral samples from varicocele patients. Western blot analysis confirmed the above data. CONCLUSIONS: In adolescents with a varicocele, there is an increase in nitrotyrosine concentration within the spermatic vein that can cause protein nitration and cytotoxicity via its reaction with various molecular targets. This could have repercussions on both sperm and testis function. We conclude that an oxidative stress status is present and should be considered as an indication for varicocele treatment in the adolescent.

Key words: adolescent/nitric oxide/nitrotyrosine/reactive nitrogen species/varicocele


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