Effects of varicocele upon the expression of apoptosis-related proteins

Summary Varicocele‐associated apoptosis has been recognised as a cause of male infertility. Thus, we assessed the expression of somatic apoptosis‐related proteins (the typical protein‐dependent apoptosis markers) in ejaculated sperm plasma from both patients with varicocele and normal donors. We evaluated the relationships between certain apoptosis‐related proteins and normal semen quality. Semen samples were obtained from 25 patients with varicocele and from 10 normal fertile controls. These samples were compared using computer‐assisted semen analysis for motion parameters and manual analysis for morphology, and were also assayed for apoptosis‐related protein activation including caspase‐3, poly‐ACP‐ribose polymerase (PARP), the Bcl‐2 family (Bcl‐2, Bak) and p53 by means of immunoblot analysis. PARP, Bak and p53 were expressed substantially more in the sperm cells of the varicocele group when compared with the normal group (P