Spermatogenic alterations in men with high testiculo epididymal temperatures.

ABSTRACT

Sperms are produced by a highly complex and poorly understood differentiation process known as spermatogenesis. Occupational exposure to high temperatures adversely affect testicular function causing partial or complete spermatogenic arrest. Dyers, cooks, blast furnace workers and men with varicocele are known to develop testicular hyperthermia, which leads to oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) and azoospermia. Semen analysis of 125 infertile men (and 25 fertile controls following the WHO guidelines, 1999 showed azoospermia in 109 men and oligozoospermia in 16 men. Twenty azoospermic and 14 oligozoospermic men had high testiculoepididymal temperatures either due to occupational exposure to high temperature or varicocele. All the 14 oligozoospermic men showed a very high percentage of sperms with abnormal morphology, impaired motility and they were subclassified as OAT group. Observations made in this study reiterates that high intratesticular temperature causes partial or complete spermatogenic arrest and may lead to increased production of morphologically abnormal sperms with impaired motility. This inverse relationship of sperm function with elevated temperature has implications in clinical medicine both in understanding pathological states and for therapeutic measures.