Role of the Toxic Metal Cadmium in the Mechanism Producing Infertility With a Varicocele

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Non-Obstructive Azoospermia; Hypospermatogenesis; Male Infertility; Varicocele

Treatments: Procedure: Varicocele repair

Study type: Observational

Funder types: NIH

Identifiers

NCT00044369

10496-CP-001

Details and patient eligibility

About

Varicose veins in the scrotum (varicocele) are responsible for >20% of male infertility in the US. Varicocele are associated with decreased sperm number and markedly reduced sperm fertilizing ability. Surgical repair or removal of varicocele restores fertility in only 1/3 of cases. The goal of this study is to identify markers that predict the outcome of variocele correction. This would offer considerable health cost savings.

Based on preliminary findings, we will obtain testis biopsies and semen specimens from infertile men with varicocele and prospectively examining the levels of cadmium, a toxic metal, and expression of genes required for normal sperm function. The semen and biopsies will be obtained during clinically dictated procedures. Cadmium and gene expression will be compared with response to varicocele repair (i.e., increased sperm production; pregnancy).

Sex: Male

Ages: 21 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

• Healthy male with varicocele (grades 2 [palpable] or 3 [visible, palpable]) and no other diagnosed cause for infertility
• Non-smoker
• Actively desiring children but never having initiated a pregnancy
• Female partner having no unresolved fertility issues