Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Medical Journal of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences 2783-2031 34 4 2012 12 05 Levels of IL-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Seminal Fluid Spermatic Vein and Peripheral Blood of Patient with Varicocele 13 17 EN Yadollah Ahmadi Asr badr Mehdi Fareghi Samad Hajir Mohammad Nouri Fatemeh Khodabakhsh Rohollah Fadaei Fouladi Journal Article 2012 12 05 Background and Objectives: Human sperm contains a wide spectrum of cytokines; such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Their effects on semen quality are still under debate. This study aims at assessing possible association of these two cytokins with semen characteristics in patients with grade II-III varicocele. Materials and Methods: In this analytic-descriptive study, 30 male patients with grade II-III varicocele were recruited in Tabriz Sina Hospital within a 12-month period. Levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were measured in seminal plasma, spermatic vein sample and peripheral serum specimen. Correlations between these parameters and sperm count, motility and morphology were assessed. Results: The mean levels of IL-6 were 23.73±9.02, 28.73±11.98 and 38.20±13.28 pg/mL in specimens from peripheral serum, spermatic vein and seminal plasma, respectively. The mean levels of TNF-alpha were 4.78±1.91, 5.66±2.95 and 6.45±2.55 pg/mL in specimens from peripheral serum, spermatic vein and seminal plasma, respectively. The mean seminal plasma IL-6 level was significantly higher in the cases with grade III varicocele. There were significant negative correlations between seminal plasma IL-6 and sperm count (r=-0.46, P=0.01) and motility (r=-0.38, P=0.04). There was no significant correlation between the spermatic vein and peripheral serum IL-6 or seminal plasma, spermatic vein and peripheral serum TNF-alpha with the spermatozoal parameters. Conclusion: Seminal plasma IL-6 is associated with worse spermatozoal parameters in seminal analysis of patients with grade II-III varicocele.