Correlation Between Duration of Varicocele and Testicular Damage in an Experimental Rat Model / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the damage to the testicles caused by a varicocele over time with using an experimental varicocele rat model and by measuring the testicular weight, the status of oxidative stress, the hormonal changes and the degeneration of the tubules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley white rats, 10 weeks old, weighing 350-360g each, had experimentally induced left varicoceles; 30 rats of the same age were used as a control group. All rats in the varicocele and control groups were sacrificed at 2, 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. The testicular weight, the levels of serum reactive oxygen species, serum testosterone, LH and FSH, as well as the degenerative changes of the tubules were measured. Statistical analyses for comparisons between the two groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test; probability values of less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Degenerative changes of the tubules on H-E stain and the testicular weight loss were observed 4 weeks after surgery. There was a significant difference in the serum ROS between the varicocele group and the control group at eight weeks after surgery. However, there were no significant differences found in the serum testosterone, LH or FSH. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study with using a rat model showed that a varicocele may cause progression of the testicular damage that induced by the varicocele over time. If a further study shows that this damage can be reversed, then there may be a critical period for treatment of men before infertility develops.

A Case of Growth Hormone Deficiency that Induced Erectile Dysfunction / 대한남성과학회지

Growth hormone deficiency is the medical condition of inadequate production of growth hormone. Growth hormone deficiency in adults is not common, but it may feature a diminished, lean body mass, poor bone density and a number of physical and psychological symptoms, including poor memory, social withdrawal and even depression. Abnormally low growth hormone levels in adults typically result in a diminished quality of life and it can even be disabling. The physical symptoms include loss of strength, stamina, and musculature. Growth hormone deficiency can also impair the biological and physiological/functional substrate of penile erection, which can be, at least in part, restored by the normalization of the plasma levels of growth hormone. This is a report on a 63-year-old man who suffered with severe erectile dysfunction and loss of libido due to growth hormone deficiency. Upon growth hormone administration, his erectile function improved dramatically.

Idiopathic Scrotal Calcinosis / 대한남성과학회지

Idiopathic scrotal calcinosis is a rare benign disease of scrotal skin, characterized by multiple asymptomatic nodules on the scrotum. The lesions are asymptomatic, round, firm, and yellowish nodules with variable size. Herein, we report a case of idiopathic scrotal calcinosis and a short review of the literature. A 42-year old man presented multiple painless, firm, nodules on his scrotum for about ten years. After excision of the nodules, mixture of calcified material was observed as a typical histological feature of idiopathic scrotal calcinosis.