Immunohistochemical Analysis of Sperm Aquaporin-3 Expression in Men with Varicocele

Authors

  • Senem Çetin Duran Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
  • Murat Akkuş Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
  • Enis Duran Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey
  • Fırat Aşır Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
  • Nilüfer Dönmezdil Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
  • Eda Yıldızhan Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
  • Dilara Konk Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
  • Kazım Uçkan Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey

Abstract

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to detect potential alterations in sperm cells in cases of varicocele using immunohistochemical methods.

Materials and Methods: In this study, semen samples obtained with consent from infertile males aged between 25-40 years were analyzed for the presence of varicocele and other determined factors, and were divided into two groups: a normozoospermic control group and a group diagnosed with varicocele. Direct swim-up techniques were utilized to separate spermatozoa with high motility. Immunohistochemical staining methods were employed to visualize protein expression, and the results were photographed at high magnification for documentation.

Results: This research was conducted on sperm samples collected from males diagnosed with varicocele and from a healthy control group. The findings suggest that the presence of aquaporin-3 protein is associated with low or negative expression in sperm cells in the presence of varicocele. Immunohistochemical analyses have revealed a reduced or absent expression of aquaporin 3 in patients with varicocele compared to healthy individuals.

Conclusion: The results of this study clearly demonstrate the adverse effects of varicocele on the structural and functional integrity of spermatozoa. Given that aquaporin-3 protein is critical for the motility of spermatozoa, the reduced expression or absence of this protein sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of male infertility.

Keywords: Sperm DNA fragmentation, immunohistochemistry, Varicocele, protein expression, male infertility, aquaporin-3.

Keywords:

Sperm DNA fragmentation, immunohistochemistry, Varicocele, protein expression, male infertility, aquaporin-3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v14i4.6569

Author Biographies

Senem Çetin Duran, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Murat Akkuş, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Enis Duran, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey

Fırat Aşır, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Nilüfer Dönmezdil, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Eda Yıldızhan, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Dilara Konk, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey

Kazım Uçkan, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey

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Published

15-04-2024
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How to Cite

1.
Duran S Çetin, Akkuş M, Duran E, Aşır F, Dönmezdil N, Yıldızhan E, et al. Immunohistochemical Analysis of Sperm Aquaporin-3 Expression in Men with Varicocele. J. Drug Delivery Ther. [Internet]. 2024 Apr. 15 [cited 2025 Feb. 11];14(4):81-5. Available from: https://jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/6569

How to Cite

1.
Duran S Çetin, Akkuş M, Duran E, Aşır F, Dönmezdil N, Yıldızhan E, et al. Immunohistochemical Analysis of Sperm Aquaporin-3 Expression in Men with Varicocele. J. Drug Delivery Ther. [Internet]. 2024 Apr. 15 [cited 2025 Feb. 11];14(4):81-5. Available from: https://jddtonline.info/index.php/jddt/article/view/6569

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