Question

Varicocele, a condition in which the pampiniform venous plexus in the spermatic cord become enlarged, can cause non-obstructive infertility in males. This condition impairs the countercurrent heat exchange within the spermatic cord, which elevates the temperature in the scrotum.

1. Explain the role of the pampiniform venous plexus in sperm production.
2. Describe the effects that even a small increase in temperature has on sperm production.

Answer 1

1. Pampiniform venous plexus is a venous network surrounding the spermatic cord in males. It drains the blood from testis and epididymis. The plexus helps regulating the temperature in the testis through countercurrent heat exchange mechanism It helps in keeping the blood in testicular artey surrounding the spermatid cord cool.
The regulated temperature in testis favours the sperm production.
2. Even a small change in temperature in the testis results in damage to the shape or function of the sperm produced. Change in temperature also affects sperm motility.
Temperature changes results in increased blood pooling and the production of free radicals puts sperm under oxidative stress.