Metabolomic profiling of varicocele-induced male infertility: insights from spermatic vein blood analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Varicocele (VC) is a leading cause of male infertility, but its pathophysiological mechanisms remain inadequately defined. This study aimed to characterize metabolic alterations in spermatic vein blood of varicocele patients with/without infertility (VI/VF groups) compared to healthy donors.

Methods

We collected spermatic vein blood samples from VC patients and peripheral blood samples from healthy donors. VC patients scheduled for surgery were categorized into VF (without infertility) group or VI (with infertility) group based on fertility status, with healthy donors as the negative control (NC) group. Metabolic profiling of spermatic vein blood from VC patients and peripheral blood from healthy donors was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (L

SUBMITTER: Wei X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12819268 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature