leptin and Varicocele

Varicocele is one of the most common causes of male infertility. Leptin that has a role in sperm motility may have a role of varicocele. We aimed to study the effect of varicocelectomy on the serum and seminal leptin in patients with asthenozoospermia and the correlation between leptin levels, sperm parameters and varicocele grade.. Thirty-six male patients with varicocele having isolated asthenozoospermia were included in this study. Thirty normal fertile controls were included. Semen analysis, serum and seminal leptin measurements were performed for all participants at baseline and for patients three months after varicocelectomy. Microsurgical varicocelectomy has been performed for patients.. Seminal and serum leptin levels were significantly higher in patients than controls. Seminal leptin was positively correlated with varicocele grade (. Varicocele is associated with higher levels of seminal and serum leptin especially in higher grads and this was correlated with negative effects on sperm motility. Leptin levels were significantly decreased after repair.

Topics: Asthenozoospermia; Humans; Infertility, Male; Leptin; Male; Sperm Motility; Varicocele

The present study investigated the expression of leptin and its receptor in the left testis and hypothalamus of rats with varicocele and clarified their roles in the pathogenesis of varicocele‑induced testicular dysfunction. A total of 40 male rats were divided randomly into four groups. Groups 1 (G1) and 3 (G3) underwent a sham operation. Groups 2 (G2) and 4 (G4) underwent operations to form a varicocele created by partial ligation of the left renal vein. G1 and G2 rats were euthanized 4 weeks after the operation while G3 and G4 rats were euthanized at 8 weeks. The expression of leptin and its receptor was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of leptin, its receptor, kisspeptin (KiSS‑1), G‑protein coupled receptor 54 (GPR54), gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle‑stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Testicular spermatogenesis function and gonadal hormone levels were measured. Compared with G1 and G3, the expression of leptin and its receptor in rat testis was significantly higher in G2 and G4, respectively. Leptin expression was inversely associated with the number of sperm in the left epididymis, thickness of the seminiferous epithelium and the diameter of seminiferous tubules. The expression of leptin receptors in the hypothalamus of G2 and G4 was significantly increased compared with that in G1 and G3, respectively. The mRNA levels of KiSS‑1, GPR54, GnRH, LH and FSH in G2 and G4 were significantly increased compared with that in G1 and G3, respectively. Serum testosterone levels in G2 and G4 rats were significantly lower than those in G1 and G3 rats, respectively. There was no significant difference between the serum levels of FSH, LH and leptin. These results suggest that leptin and its receptor may serve significant roles in the pathogenesis of varicocele-induced testicular dysfunction.

Topics: Animals; Gene Expression Regulation; Immunohistochemistry; Leptin; Male; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Leptin; Spermatogenesis; Testis; Varicocele

We investigated the expression and the exact role of leptin under hypoxic conditions in the human testis.. Five testes from patients treated with orchiectomy for prostate cancer were used to construct an in vitro hypoxic culture system for human testicular tissue. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze leptin protein expression. Leptin, leptin receptor and HIF-1α mRNA were examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Serum and seminal plasma leptin, gonadal hormones and semen parameters were evaluated in 10 healthy donors and 42 infertile patients with varicocele before and after surgery.. The viability of in vitro cultured testicular tissue was well maintained within 48 hours based on the results of morphological analysis, cell number and cell specific mRNAs. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that leptin was mainly expressed in seminiferous tubules. Interestingly the optical density of leptin, leptin mRNA and HIF-1α mRNA was significantly increased under hypoxia. Leptin mRNA and HIF-1α mRNA correlated positively (Rs = 0.843, p <0.01). In the clinical study the concentration of seminal plasma leptin before varicocelectomy was markedly higher in patients (mean ± SD 3.01 ± 1.23 ng/l, p <0.01). It was highest in the grade 3 group (mean 3.95 ± 1.37 ng/l, p <0.01) and significantly decreased in the 6-month postoperative group (2.35 ± 0.78, p <0.05). Furthermore, negative correlations were observed between seminal plasma leptin and the sperm concentration (Rs = -0.187, p <0.05), and progressive motility (Rs = -0.234, p <0.05).. Leptin expression was induced under hypoxia in the human testis, probably via the HIF-1α related response pathway. Seminal plasma leptin closely correlated with varicocele related spermatogenesis dysfunction. It might effectively reflect the testicular hypoxic environment.

Topics: Cell Hypoxia; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Leptin; Male; Testis; Varicocele

Excessive apoptotic spermatozoon death is associated with male infertility. Leptin regulates apoptosis in several cell types. We prospectively investigated if seminal plasma leptin mediates spermatozoon apoptosis in 74 varicocele (VC) patients and 70 leucocytospermia patients. Spermatozoa from 40 normospermic men were used as controls. Routine semen analysis, spermatozoon apoptosis rate, seminal plasma leptin, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured. In VC and leucocytospermia patients, seminal plasma leptin levels and spermatozoon apoptosis rates were significantly higher compared with controls. In the VC group, seminal plasma ROS levels were significantly higher compared with controls; there were no significant differences in TNF-α levels. In the leucocytospermia group, both ROS and TNF-α levels were significantly higher compared with controls. In both the VC and leucocytospermia groups, there was a significant positive correlation between the spermatozoon apoptosis rate and leptin levels and ROS and leptin levels. There was a significant correlation between leptin and TNF-α levels in the leucocytospermia group. Seminal plasma leptin levels correlate significantly with spermatozoon apoptosis rate, and leptin may be a spermatozoon pro-apoptotic factors. The generation of ROS is a possible mechanism. Leptin may induce apoptosis via TNF-α in leucocytospermia patients.

Topics: Adult; Apoptosis; Case-Control Studies; Humans; Leptin; Leukocytes; Male; Reactive Oxygen Species; Semen; Spermatozoa; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Varicocele

To investigate the expressions of leptin and its receptor in the epididymis of experimental varicocele (EV) rats.. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: 4-week EV (n = 12), 8-week EV (n = 12), 4-week control (n = 8), and 8-week control (n = 8). EV models were established by partial ligation of the left renal vein. The expressions of leptin and its receptor in the rat epididymis were measured by immunohistochemistry, and their mRNA expressions determined by real-time quantitative PCR.. The expressions of leptin and its receptor in the epididymis were significantly higher in the 4- and 8-week EV groups than in the 4- and 8-week control groups (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the two EV groups (P > 0.05). So were their mRNA expressions in the former two than in the latter two groups (P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the former two (P > 0.05).. The expressions of leptin and its receptor are markedly increased in the epididymis of varicocele rats. Leptin may be involved in the mechanisms of varicocele inducing male infertility.

Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Epididymis; Leptin; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Leptin; Varicocele

The objective of this study was to explore the relationships between varicocele-related spermatogenesis dysfunction and the expression of leptin and leptin receptors. In rats with experimental varicocele, the function of spermatogenesis, the expression of leptin and leptin receptors in testes were analysed; and in patients with varicocele-related male infertility, serum and seminal plasma levels of leptin, gonadal hormones and semen parameters were evaluated. In the testes of rats, leptin was expressed in seminiferous tubules and intersitium, leptin receptor was predominantly expressed in interstitium. The expression of leptin and its receptor in the testis of rats was not related to the weight of rat, but was inversely related to the weight of testis (r = -0.408, p = 0.009 and r = -0.433, p = 0.005, respectively), the Johnsen scores (r = -0.916, p = 0.000 and r = -0.863, p = 0.000, respectively), the seminiferous tubules diameter (r = -0.853, p = 0.000 and r = -0.870, p = 0.000, respectively) and the thickness of seminiferous epithelium (r = -0.929, p = 0.000 and r = -0.948, p = 0.000, respectively). In varicocele patients (N = 40), the sperm concentration and motility were significantly lower (p = 0.000) than those in the control group (N = 25), and the leptin level in seminal plasma was significantly higher (p = 0.000) than that in the control group. The leptin in serum and seminal plasma was positively related (r = 0.223, p = 0.002). The seminal plasma leptin level was inversely related to sperm concentration (r = -0.632, p = 0.000) and motility (r = -0.635, p = 0.000). There was no significant relation between serum leptin and seminal parameters and between leptin and gonadal hormone values. The dysfunction of spermatogenesis in varicocele-related infertile male is associated with increase in leptin and leptin receptors. Leptin may have local effects on the function of testis and spermatogenesis.

Topics: Animals; Base Sequence; DNA Primers; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Immunohistochemistry; Leptin; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Spermatogenesis; Testis; Varicocele

The aim of our study was to investigate the relationships between the expression of leptin, leptin receptor in the testis and spermatogenesis, and testosterone (T) concentration in infertile men. Testicular tissue samples were collected from the testes of five fertile volunteers, eight patients with obstructive azoospermia (OA), six patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO) and 32 oligospermic patients with varicocele testis. In testicular tissue, leptin and leptin receptor were identified by staining with polyclonal antibodies. Serum follicle stimulating hormone, lutenising hormone (LH), and T were determined by chemiluminescence assays. Leptin was expressed on germ cells, mainly on spermatocytes. The ratio of immunostained germ cells to total germ cells was inversely correlated with the concentration of T (r = -0.32, P = 0.01), sperm concentration (r = -0.51, P = 0.002) and Johnsen's score (r = -0.44,P = 0.005). In contrast, leptin receptor immunostained cells were found in the interstitium, primarily in Leydig cells. Leptin receptor expression on Leydig cells was inversely correlated with serum T concentration (r = -0.50, P < 0.001). The dysfunction of spermatogenesis is associated with an increase in leptin and leptin receptor expression in the testis.

Topics: Adult; Gene Expression; Humans; Infertility, Male; Leptin; Leydig Cells; Male; Middle Aged; Oligospermia; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Leptin; Testis; Testosterone; Varicocele