RESUMO
lnhibin B generated by Sertoli cells provides negative feedback on FSH secretion. In men, inhibin B seems to be physiologically important form of inhibin. Lactic dehydrogenase [LDH], an intracellular enzyme that indicates cellular damage. Varicocele has been associated with infertility and disturbed spermatogenesis. We aimed to investigate the relationship between varicocele, LDH and inhibin B. This study was conducted on forty infertile men with varicocele and twenty age matched control men. LDH and inhibin B were measured in the blood samples of these 40 patients with varicocele which were obtained synchronously from spermatic and peripheral veins during operation and in peripheral vein of control men. Varicocele patients were classified into two groups: group I twenty patients with normal sperm concentration [> 20 million /ml], and group II twenty patients with low sperm concentration [< 20 million /ml]. FSH and testosterone were measured by chemilurninescence while inhibin B was measured by enzyme immunoassay method. LDH enzyme activities were assayed by enzymatic U.V methods. Sperm counts ranged from 3.9 to 60 million/ml, while motility ranged from 15 to 48%. LDH level and inhibin B in spermatic vein were significantly higher than the level in peripheral vein. There was no correlation between sperm counts and LDH level in spermatic vein. lnhibin B concentrations in spermatic vein correlated significantly with serum concentration of FSH [r= -0.63, p < 0.001] and free testosterone [r= 0.34, p<0.05] and also correlated significantly with sperm counts [r= 0.44, p < 0.01] and total testicular volume [r= 0.56, p< 0.01]. lnhibin B showed significant reduction in patients with varicocele than in control men, while LDH showed no significant difference. There were significant increases in inhibin B and LDH in both peripheral vein and spermatic vein of men with sperm count > 20 million /ml when compared with men who had count < 20 million/ml. Significant increase in spermatic vein LDH and inhibin B levels were observed in varicocele. These findings suggest that inhibin B may be offer an improved diagnosis of testicular dysfunction. Consequently, spermatic vein LDH activity and inhibin B level can be predictors of testicular dysfunction in varicocele