Role of inhibin B as a marker of spermatogenesis in infertile patients with varicocele

ABSTRACT

Varicocele is a state of varicosity and tortousity of the pampiniform plexus around the retrograde blood flow. There is strong association between varicocele and subfertility so treating varicocele may be helping improvement of fertility. Inhibin B levels reflect the functional state of seminiferous epithelium and have been considered as sensitive index of spermatogenesis. This study was to detect the role of serum inhibin B concentration in infertile men with varicocele before and after varicocelectomy. Twenty patients with varicocele were included in this study. Serum inhibin B, serum FSH and semen analysis were performed before and after 6 months after varicocelectomy. There was a significant increase of inhibin B levels [P < 0.01] after varicocelectomy and a significant decrease of serum FSH levels was observed after surgery P < 0.01]. A significant improvement of semen analysis, sperm concentration [P < 0.01] and progressive motility [P < 0.05] was showed after treatment. Serum Inhibin B level in infertile men may provide a useful information about spermatogenesis and could be used as a more direct marker of spermatogenesis than FSH. Moreover, varicocelectomy improves the level of inhibin B and semen parameters in those patients