1
Department of Andrology, Sexology and STIs, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
2
Department of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt
3
Department of Basic Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Garmian, Kalar, Iraq; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Zanko Central Laboratory, Kalar, Iraq
4
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Zanko Central Laboratory, Kalar, Iraq
Abstract
Background: The association between varicocele and male infertility has always been a subject of ongoing debate. Lactoferrin (LF) belongs to the transferrin family with iron-binding properties and exhibits many beneficial biological properties. The purpose of the current study was to assess seminal levels of LF in infertile oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) men with varicocele. Methods: Sixty-nine men were allocated into three groups; healthy fertile men (as controls) (n=20), infertile OAT men without varicocele (n=19), and infertile OAT men with varicocele (n=30). All men underwent history taking, genital examination, semen analysis, and determination levels of seminal LF by ELISA method. Statistical analysis was carried out using Kruskal-Wallis test followed by post-hoc analysis (Conover) for comparisons involving more than two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test for comparisons between two groups. Spearman correlation test was used to assess the relationship between variables. The p>0.05 was set as statistically significant. Results: The median seminal LF level of the healthy fertile controls demonstrated significantly increased levels compared to both groups of infertile OAT men with or without varicocele (p<0.000001). The median seminal LF level of the infertile OAT men with varicocele grade III demonstrated a significant decrease compared to infertile OAT men with grade II (p=0.0057). Collectively, seminal LF levels exhibited significant positive correlations with sperm concentration, total sperm motility, and normal sperm morphology. Conclusion: LF can be an imperative seminal biomarker that decreases in infertile OAT men especially if associated with varicocele.
Ghaly,M F , Abougabal,K , Allam,A A , Palani,A and Mostafa,T . (2025). Assessment of Seminal Lactoferrin Levels in Oligoasthenoterato-zoospermic Men with Varicocele. Journal of Reproduction & Infertility, 26(2), 119-125.
MLA
Ghaly,M F , , Abougabal,K , , Allam,A A , , Palani,A , and Mostafa,T . "Assessment of Seminal Lactoferrin Levels in Oligoasthenoterato-zoospermic Men with Varicocele", Journal of Reproduction & Infertility, 26, 2, 2025, 119-125.
HARVARD
Ghaly M F, Abougabal K, Allam A A, Palani A, Mostafa T. (2025). 'Assessment of Seminal Lactoferrin Levels in Oligoasthenoterato-zoospermic Men with Varicocele', Journal of Reproduction & Infertility, 26(2), pp. 119-125.
CHICAGO
M F Ghaly, K Abougabal, A A Allam, A Palani and T Mostafa, "Assessment of Seminal Lactoferrin Levels in Oligoasthenoterato-zoospermic Men with Varicocele," Journal of Reproduction & Infertility, 26 2 (2025): 119-125,
VANCOUVER
Ghaly M F, Abougabal K, Allam A A, Palani A, Mostafa T. Assessment of Seminal Lactoferrin Levels in Oligoasthenoterato-zoospermic Men with Varicocele. JRI. 2025;26(2):119-125.