The relationship between varicocele and semen nitric oxide concentrations

We investigated the relationship between seminal plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentrations and conventional semen parameters in patients with varicocele. Semen samples were obtained from infertile patients with varicocele (n=55) and from normal controls (n=48). The mean NO concentration in the seminal plasma of patients with varicocele was significantly higher than that of the controls (P < 0.01). A significant negative correlation was noted between NO and sperm motility (r=−0.29, P=0.003), NO and sperm concentration (r=−0.26, P=0.008) and NO and normal morphology (normal %) (r=−0.25, P=0.01). It was concluded that increased NO production may influence sperm production, motility and morphology in patients with varicocele. Received: 21 February 2000 / Accepted: 20 June 2000