Testicular Nitric Oxide and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Levels in Obstructive Azoospermia: A Possible Role in Pathophysiology of Infertility

Başar, M. Murad; Kisa, Üçler; Tuğlu, Devrim; Yilmaz, Erdal; Başar, Halil; Çağlayan, Osman; Batislam, Ertan

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/MI/2006/27458

Mediators of Inflammation

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Research Communication | Open Access

Volume 2006 | Article ID 027458 | https://doi.org/10.1155/MI/2006/27458

Testicular Nitric Oxide and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances Levels in Obstructive Azoospermia: A Possible Role in Pathophysiology of Infertility

M. Murad Başar,¹Üçler Kisa,²Devrim Tuğlu,¹Erdal Yilmaz,¹Halil Başar,¹Osman Çağlayan,²and Ertan Batislam¹

Received27 Oct 2005

Revised02 Jan 2006

Accepted23 Jan 2006

Published20 Mar 2006

Abstract

Objective. The aim of the study is to evaluate the levels of nitrite/nitrate and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and their relationship with seminal parameters in experimental obstructive azoospermic rats to explain the possible mechanism of impaired sperm quality in obstructive azoospermia. Methods . A total of 10 male Spraque-Dawley rats underwent bilateral vas resection and ligation (Group-1=vasectomy group). The findings were compared with control group (Group-2=sham group,n=10). Animals were sacrificed 8 weeks after surgery. Testes were removed and used for the evaluation of nitrate/nitrite and TBARS levels and for histology. Epididymal-aspirated seminal plasma was used for semen count and morphological analysis according to the Kruger criteria. Results. Testicular tissue nitrate/nitrite and TBARS levels were 35.7±3.1μmol/g protein and 3.7±0.1 nmol/g protein in Group-1, and 19.3±0.7μmol/g protein and 3.1±0.1 nmol/g protein in Group-2, respectively. Both parameters showed statistical differences between the two groups. Testicular tissue nitrate/nitrite and TBARS levels showed negative and statistically significant correlations with sperm motility and morphology. Conclusions. The present study showed that testicular nitrate/nitrite and TBARS levels were increased in obstructive azoospermia. For that reason, we concluded that antioxidant treatment can be recommended to patients before sperm extraction for artificial reproduction due to obstructive infertility after vasectomy reversal.

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Copyright © 2006 M. Murad Başar et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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