Effect of varicocele on the epididymal function

ABSTRACT

On attempt to study the effect of varicocele on the epididymal activity we measured the level of two epididymal markers [alpha-1,4 glucosidase and total carnitine] in the seminal plasma of 10 normal controls [group I] and 26 patients with varicocele subdivided into group II [with normal seminal count], group III [with oligospermia] and group IV with [severe- oligospermia]. The level of both markers [glucosidase and camitine] was diminished in varicocele patients with oligospermia and there was a significant correlation between the level of these markers and the severity of oligospermia. Estimation of these markers is easy and available and can be used to assess the epididymal activity as well as the infertile patients with subclinical varicocele