Altered serum profile of inhibin B, Pro-alphaC and anti-Müllerian hormone in

TRIGO, RV; BERGADÁ, I; REY, RA; BALLERINI MG; BEDECARRÁS, P; BERGADA, C; GOTTLIEB, S; CAMPO, S

CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY

Año: 2004 vol. 60 p. 758 - 764

0300-0664

OBJECTIVE: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B are reliable markers ofSertoli cell function. The aim of the present study was to assess the functional state of Sertoli cells in order to detect early changes in the testicularfunction of prepubertal and pubertal patients with untreated grade II or IIIvaricocele. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Seven prepubertal and 55 pubertal boys withuntreated grade II or III varicocele were studied. Seven prepubertal and 43pubertal normal boys were considered as controls. MEASUREMENTS: Serum levels ofgonadotrophins, testosterone, inhibin B and Pro-alphaC and AMH were determined bytime-resolved immunofluorometric assays, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and specificenzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), respectively. RESULTS: Inhibin B andPro-alphaC serum levels were higher in prepubertal patients with varicocele than in controls (P < 0.001). No further increment in inhibin B and Pro-alphaC levels was observed in pubertal patients with varicocele. Higher levels of AMH werefound in patients in Tanner stages I, III, IV and V when compared to normal boys by Tanner stage (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.001, respectively). Thedirect correlation found in normal boys between inhibin B levels and LH,testosterone and testicular volume was not observed in patients with varicocele. CONCLUSIONS: The altered serum profile of gonadal hormones observed in untreated prepubertal and pubertal patients with varicocele may indicate an early abnormal regulation of the seminiferous epithelium function.