Deferasirox, an Iron-Chelating Agent, Improves Testicular Morphometric and Sperm Functional Parameters in a Rat Model of Varicocele

Figure 4

Changes over time for rat anatomical parameters, sperm parameters, and testicular iron content in control and VCL groups. Gross anatomical parameters including (a1) mean final body weight and (a2) mean left testicular volume. Selected semen parameters including (b1) spermatozoa concentration in million/ml, (b2) percentage motile cells, and (b3) percentage of spermatozoa showing lipid peroxidation. Sperm chromatin compaction status with more specifically (c1) percentage of persistent histone, (c2) percentage of protamine-deficient cells, and (c3) percentage of sperm nuclear DNA damage. (d1) Abnormal sperm morphology. (d2) Free iron content of seminiferous tubules (SfTs) in the control (2 vs. 4 months) and varicocele (2 vs. 4 months) animals. The data represent the , and an independent -test was performed between two groups. A value < 0.05 is considered significant.

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