Study Of Inhibin B Serum Level In Boys With Varicocele And Hypospadias

Background and purpose:Testis which is mainly composed of germ cells, Leydig cells and Sertoli cells, has endocrine and exocrine (germ) functions. In prepuberty, germ cells and Leydig cells are mainly dormant, while Sertoli cells are actively secreting an endocrine factor named inhibin B. Inhibin B is generated entirely by Sertoli cells in prepuberty. Therefore, serum inhibin B levels are deemed as a direct index in recent years for researching the existence, differentiation and function of Sertoli cells, and also recommended as one of the reliability index for evaluating prepubertal testicular function. Until now except stimulating test this is the unique method to evaluate the function of Sertoli cell before puberty. To our knowledge, there are few reprots that evaluated testicular function via measuring inhibin B levels of those children with varicocele and hypospadias. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether dysfunction of Sertoli cell exist in boys with varicocele and hypospadias via comparing inhibin B level between those boys and healthy boys. Methods:The clinical date of varicocele and hypospadias were collected in Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from Jun.2006to Feb.2011. Control group include in the same period age-matched boys with routine physical examination, phimosis, hydrocele and concealed penis. The inguinal hernia, cryptorchidism, disorders of sex development were excluded. The serum inhibin B level were measuring by double antibody sandwich ELISA and comparing by each year of age. All the data were analyzed by SPSS17.0statistical software package, P<0.05was thought having statistic significance.Results:The volume of varicocele group contains39cases, hypospadias contains404cases. Of control group,209were physical examination,366Concealed penis,15Hydrocele and25phimosis.Comparing to control group, the serum inhibin B levels of varicocele group were higher in those younger than13-year-old, whereas lower in older than13-year-old, but there is no statistic difference (P>0.05).There is no statistic difference of serum inhibin B level was seen between hypospadias group (0-12years old) and control group in each year of age.Conclusion:1. There is no obvious dysfunction of the Sertoli cell in this age group with varicocele. It implys that in the beginning stage of varicocele dysfunction of Sertoli cell does not happen, and it maybe a suitable window for intervention. 2. There is no obvious dysfunction of the Sertoli cell in hypospadias aged from infant to12-year-old, which imply that the happening of hypospadias is not associated with dysfunction of Sertoli cell.