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At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Influence of captopril on human sperm motility parameters in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of captopril on human sperm motility in vitro. METHODS: Sperm specimens were aseptically obtained by masturbation and prepared by Percoll gradient-centrifugation technique to produce a spermatozoa suspension of high motility from 12 healthy fertile men. The spermatozoa suspension were incubated with captopril at 1:9 ratio of volume at 37 degrees C in vitro, which was administrated at three different concentrations. Measurements were carried out within 5 minutes for all specimens including VAP, VSL, VCL, STR, ALH and progressive motility. RESULTS: Within 5 minutes, three different concentrations of captopril could change the human spermatozoa motility and forward motile sperm percentage, but captopril did not decrease the other motility parameters, including VSL, VCL and VAP etc. The high concentration group could decrease the VCL more than those of the other two groups and it seemed that the velocity parameters of the middle concentration group were higher than those of the other two groups, but there were no significant difference statistically. CONCLUSION: It suggests that captopril can decrease the human spermatozoa motility and forward motile sperm percentage, but it can not directly affect the spermatozoa velocity in vitro.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity affects sperm motility and serves as a decapacitation factor.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAFah) content in semen and sperm motility. DESIGN: The PAFah levels in semen were measured and correlated with sperm motility. SETTING: Clinical laboratory in a private assistant reproductive technology clinic. PATIENT(S): Three hundred and twelve men seeking diagnosis and treatment of infertility. INTERVENTION(S): Semen samples were collected from 312 healthy mature men seeking infertility treatment. Sperm motility and PAFah activity were measured in seminal plasma. Data was analyzed by Student's t test and regression analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): PAFah activity and sperm motility. RESULT(S): Seminal PAFah content ranged from a low of 179 IU/L to a high of 2,457 IU/L. The overall mean PAFah content in semen was 780.59 IU/L. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant (R2 = 0.655) and negative relationship between PAFah content in semen and sperm motility. Semen specimens with high percent motility (> or = 50%) had significantly lower PAFah concentrations (442.03 +/- 14.37 IU/L) than those with the lower percent sperm motility (< 50%) (882.16 +/- 18.45 IU/L). CONCLUSION(S): The data confirm the presence of PAFah in human semen and that activity is significantly and negatively correlated with sperm motility. The PAFah is proven to be a candidate for sperm decapacitation factors, whereas PAF is qualified to be a candidate for sperm capacitation factors.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

New system for long-term monitoring of sperm motility: EDTA effect on semen.

Many drugs act as sperm stimulants and are of clinical value for male infertility. Current research deals with the physiological mechanisms of sperm motility/sperm stimulation and how long the effect lasts. For such a study, long-term monitoring of sperm motility becomes essential for traditional semen evaluation. A new system was designed to deal with the microscopic images of semen. Its performance was evaluated by studying the effect of EDTA on sperm motility. EDTA increased sperm curvilinear velocity (Vcl) and straight-line velocity (Vsl) by 31 and 20%. EDTA also prolonged the duration of motility by 68 and 61%, respectively. However, EDTA had less effect on the linearity of forward progression (Lin). The proposed system can analyze semen and does well at monitoring sperm motility for short term and long term. It may be valuable to test the possible role of sperm stimulation for male infertility and assisted reproduction.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1981

Clinical use of the turbidimetric analysis of sperm motility: comparison with visual techniques.

Semen characteristics of men with apparent fertility problems are analyzed primarily by routine visual techniques. Although these techniques provide quantitative information regarding the sperm count, they give only qualitative information about sperm motility. We compared visual microscopic ratings of sperm motility (based on an arbitrary scale of 0 to 4 in half-unit steps) with turbidimetric spectrophotometric analyses for 100 patients from our male fertility clinic. In the turbidimetric method, semen is layered on the bottom of the cuvette filled with Lopata's medium, and motility is quantitated as the rate of change in optical density as the sperm swim upward into the light path. The visual sperm motility rating did not correlate with the turbidimetric rating. Whereas most of the patients had visual ratings of 2.5 to 3.0 (indicating normal motility), the majority had turbidimetric motility factors that were well below the average motility factor for a control group. On the basis of these studies we believe that the turbidimetric analysis of sperm motility is a much more accurate measure of sperm motility than is visual microscopic analysis. Its major advantages are that (1) it provides a quantitative measure of sperm motility; (2) it does not rely on arbitrary rating by an individual; and (3) the sperm must perform work in order to be measured (i.e., leave the semen and swim upward into the light path).

Cell Survival↗
PubMed1998

Molecular cloning and characterization of a radial spoke head protein of sea urchin sperm axonemes: involvement of the protein in the regulation of sperm motility.

Monoclonal antibodies raised against axonemal proteins of sea urchin spermatozoa have been used to study regulatory mechanisms involved in flagellar motility. Here, we report that one of these antibodies, monoclonal antibody D-316, has an unusual perturbating effect on the motility of sea urchin sperm models; it does not affect the beat frequency, the amplitude of beating or the percentage of motile sperm models, but instead promotes a marked transformation of the flagellar beating pattern which changes from a two-dimensional to a three-dimensional type of movement. On immunoblots of axonemal proteins separated by SDS-PAGE, D-316 recognized a single polypeptide of 90 kDa. This protein was purified following its extraction by exposure of axonemes to a brief heat treatment at 40 degrees C. The protein copurified and coimmunoprecipitated with proteins of 43 and 34 kDa, suggesting that it exists as a complex in its native form. Using D-316 as a probe, a full-length cDNA clone encoding the 90-kDa protein was obtained from a sea urchin cDNA library. The sequence predicts a highly acidic (pI = 4.0) protein of 552 amino acids with a mass of 62,720 Da (p63). Comparison with protein sequences in databases indicated that the protein is related to radial spoke proteins 4 and 6 (RSP4 and RSP6) of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which share 37% and 25% similarity, respectively, with p63. However, the sea urchin protein possesses structural features distinct from RSP4 and RSP6, such as the presence of three major acidic stretches which contains 25, 17, and 12 aspartate and glutamate residues of 34-, 22-, and 14-amino acid long stretches, respectively, that are predicted to form alpha-helical coiled-coil secondary structures. These results suggest a major role for p63 in the maintenance of a planar form of sperm flagellar beating and provide new tools to study the function of radial spoke heads in more evolved species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

[Application of a trans-membrane migration method in the study of human sperm motility: a review].

Transmembrane migration method is a bioassay specifically designed to study drug effect on human sperm motility. It was first used in the study of sperm immobilizing agents which have a membrane stabilizing effect. Then it was used to investigate the relationship between calcium ion and sperm motility. Recently, this method has been used to screen drugs that stimulate sperm motility. It has also been modified for the study of porcine sperm motility. Computer assisted semen analysis showed that the transmembrane migration method is most suitable for studying drug effect on rapid and straight-forward motility of sperm.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed1975

Stimulation of sperm motility by kinins in fresh and 24 hours aged human ejaculates.

Kallikrein, a kinin-releasing proteinase, significantly stimulates human sperm motility in fresh ejaculates with primarely reduced sperm motility (asthenozoospermia) as well as in 24 hours stored ejaculates with reduced sperm motility resulting from post-ejaculatory aging processes. adiition of a kininogen source (serum) further significantly improved sperm motility of kallikrein-stimulated ejaculates. In contrast to the 24 hours lasting stimulation of kallikrein, enhancement of sperm motility by kinins is limited to 2 hours after addition of a single dose of kallidin (1 ng/ml).

Humans↗
PubMed1992

The effect of cocaine on sperm motility characteristics and bovine cervical mucus penetration.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the in vitro effects of cocaine on sperm motility and bovine mucus penetration because cocaine abuse is associated with decreased sperm motility, and related compounds, such as procaine, are known to decrease sperm motility. DESIGN: Human semen samples were exposed to a range of cocaine concentrations and the effects quantified using computer-assisted sperm analysis and the bovine mucus penetration test. SETTING: University research laboratory. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Samples were obtained from 18 healthy volunteers. INTERVENTIONS: Normal semen samples were exposed to concentrations of cocaine ranging from 10(-11) to 10(-4) M. Motility characteristics were evaluated after 2 hours, and bovine mucus penetration was evaluated after 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 2 hours. Mucus penetration by washed sperm was also evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Motility characteristics were evaluated using computer-assisted sperm analysis, and functional sperm motility was evaluated using the bovine mucus penetration test. RESULTS: Cocaine exposure decreased the percentage of motile sperm in a concentration-dependent manner with a maximum decrease of 23% at 10(-4) M but had no effect on other motility characteristics. Cocaine decreased bovine mucus penetration by 12% at high cocaine concentrations (10(-4) M), but increased penetration by 69% at low concentrations (10(-9) M). Washing sperm before cocaine exposure attenuated the increased sperm penetration. CONCLUSION: The ability of cocaine to decrease the percentage of motile sperm at high concentrations may explain the decreased sperm motility associated with cocaine use. Cocaine's ability to augment sperm penetration at low concentrations suggests an interaction of cocaine with the sperm adrenergic system.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Relationship between sperm mitochondrial membrane potential, sperm motility, and fertility potential.

AIM: To analyze the relationship between sperm mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm motility parameters by means of a computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) and in-vitro fertilization rate(%FR). METHODS: Semen samples were obtained from 26 men undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Informed consent was obtained from all men prior to the study. Samples were prepared using wash and swim-up method in HEPES-HTF medium. The sperm motility (%MOT), progressive motility (%PMOT), average path velocity (VAP) microm/s), straight line velocity (VSL) (micro m/s), curvilinear velocity (VCL) (microm/s) and %hyperactivated sperm (%HA), and the %FR were assessed. The samples were incubated in the presence of 2.0 mciromol/L of 5,5',6,6'-tetra-chloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolyl-carbocyanine iodide (JC-1) for 30 min at 37 degrees C in air and washed in PBS before flow cytometry (FACSCalibur: Becton Dickinson) analysis. The mitochondrial probe JC-1 was used to identify the mitochondrial membrane potential. The sperm was divided into three populations according to the fluorescence pattern as follows: the high mitochondrial membrane potential group (n=8), the moderate group (n=5), and the low group (n=13). Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired t-test. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the high and the low groups in %MOT (91.1+/-8.5 vs 63.0+/-32.7, mean+/-SD), VAP (73.0+/-14.2 vs 52.1+/-12.5), VCL (127.0+/-28.1 vs 87.0+/-22.6), %HA (27.3+/-23.6 vs 7.2+/-9.0) and %FR [73.2 (48/56) vs 59.0 (69/117)]. No significant differences were found in other CASA parameters. CONCLUSION: When the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential increases, sperm motility parameters and fertility potential will also increase. The JC-1 dye method is useful to predict sperm fertility potential.

Embryo Transfer↗
PubMed1999

Inhibition of human sperm motility by specific herbs used in alternative medicine.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to analyze sperm motility parameters in the presence of herbs. METHODS: Washed sperm were incubated in either saw-palmetto (Serenoa repens, Permixon Sabal serrulatum), echinacea purpura, ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), or control medium. Parameters were measured on a Hamilton-Thorn analyzer after 1, 4, 24, and 48 hr at 37 degrees C. RESULTS: Sperm motility was inhibited at the high concentration (0.6 mg/mL) of St. John's wort. Curvilinear velocities and beat cross frequencies also decreased, but not hyperactivation. High-concentration saw-palmetto, echinacea, or gikgo inhibited motility at 24 and 48 hr. CONCLUSIONS: A potent inhibition of sperm motility was seen in St. John's wort unrelated to changes in pH. Furthermore, sperm viability was compromised in St. John's wort, suggesting a spermicidal effect. Metabolic changes were observed in saw-palmetto-treated sperm. High-concentration echinacea purpura interfered with sperm enzymes. Ginkgo did not have an antioxidant effect on sperm motility.

Cell Survival↗
PubMed2004

Activation of sperm motility in striped bass via a cAMP-independent pathway.

The objective of the present study was to identify the effect of osmolality, ions (K+, H+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and cAMP on the initiation of sperm motility in striped bass (Morone saxatilis). Striped bass spermatozoa remained motile in solutions isotonic to seminal plasma (350 mOsm/kg) until osmolality reached 600 mOsm/kg. K+ (0-100 mM) had no effect ( p>0.05 ) on sperm motility, and sperm displayed a high percentage of motility over a wide range of pH (6.0-8.5). Sperm motility could be initiated in Ca2+-free solutions. In contrast, sperm motility was inhibited (P<0.01) by solutions containing > or =10 mM Ca2+, and sperm could not be reactivated by a Ca2+-free solution. This Ca2+ inhibition was not affected by verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker. However, if sperm motility was first initiated in a Ca2+-free solution, the addition of Ca2+ solutions, up to 80 mM, failed to inhibit sperm motility, suggesting that Ca2+ inhibited the initiation of motility, but had no control of motile spermatozoa. Mg2+ solutions had similar inhibitory effects on sperm motility as Ca2+ solutions. Therefore, initiation of motility in striped bass sperm may be related to voltage-gated channels across the cell's plasma membrane. Membrane permeable cAMP did not initiate motility of quiescent, intact striped bass spermatozoa, and motility of demembranated sperm could be activated in the absence of cAMP.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of pentoxifylline on human sperm motility and fertilizing capacity.

The effect of pentoxifylline (PF) treatment on human sperm motility and fertilizing capacity was assessed in 43 couples undergoing IVF/ET, as well as in 84 couples treated with AIH/IUI. Sperm motility increased following PF treatment in asthenospermic samples (n = 12) from 39.2 +/- 1.5 to 45.5% +/- 2% (p = .05), in oligoasthenospermic (n = 40) from 38.1 +/- 1.6 to 43.6 +/- 1.7% (p = .001), and in total (n = 127) from 50 +/- 1 to 52.5 +/- 1% (p < .001). In addition, PF incubation of sperm samples resulted in higher sperm motility values compared to swim-up in all categories of sperm samples. Furthermore, progressive motility increased in all sperm groups following PF treatment (astheno-spermic: +16.7%; oligoasthenospermic: +14%, p < .001; oligozoospermic: +23.5%, p < .001; normozoospermic: +15.3%, p < .05; total +19.2%, p < .001). Sperm preparation with PF resulted in higher fertilization rates in all categories of sperm samples compared to swim-up (total: 46.6 vs. 29.1%, respectively; p < .05). Moreover, PF treatment of human sperm resulted in 9 viable pregnancies (IVF/ET: 5, AIH/IUI: 4) and one biochemical (IVF/ET). PF improving sperm motility and fertilizing capacity appears to be a promising motility stimulant.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An in vivo and in vitro investigation into the effects of alpha- chlorohydrin on sperm motility and correlation with fertility in the Han Wistar rat.

Following a recommendation from the International Conference on Harmonisation, pharmaceutical companies are now monitoring possible drug effects on sperm motility in the rat during preclinical safety studies by assessing sperm motility (velocity). However, it is not known precisely how changes in sperm motility relate to fertility. Therefore, the effects of alpha-chlorohydrin on sperm motility were investigated and related to fertility both in vivo and in vitro. alpha-Chlorohydrin was given orally to male rats using a range of doses: 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg for at least 5 consecutive days. Sperm were than assessed for motility using a standard scoring system (operators' observation of sperm) that graded degree of motility (i.e., 0 = i mmotile to 4 = very motile). The results showed a dose-related decrease in sperm motility. The sperm also appeared to move with a "jerky" action. Surprisingly, when this was correlated to fertility, none of the females mated with treated males became pregnant. A dose-related decrease in pregnancy would perhaps have been expected. There was no effect on sperm morphology, and testicular and epididymal pathology were only seen after doses of 20 mg/kg. When sperm from untreated rats were incubated with alpha-chlorohydrin in vitro at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mM, sperm motility and motion were similarly affected as observed in vivo. However, the fertilization capacity (in vitro fertilization) of the treated sperm showed a concentration-related reduction in percentage fertilization, and there was also evidence of abnormal embryo development. These findings suggest that the present standard scoring system used in preclinical safety studies is not a comprehensive indicator of sperm function and/or fertility. A better understanding of sperm movement, therefore, is desirable so effects on sperm motility can be related to fertility.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

[Intra-spermatic L-carnitine and survival of sperm motility].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to evaluate the intrasperm carnitine (L-C) content related to sperm motility survival in bovine cervical mucus and in culture medium (Tyrode solution). METHODS: The following subjects were selected: 15 fertile normospermic subjects (according to WHO guidelines) and 31 male partners of infertile couples (semen profile: volume > 2.0 ml; concentration > 20 x 10(6)/ml, progressive motility > or = 25% (WHO categories "a" and "b") after fluidification, abnormal forms < 70%; round cells < 1.0 x 10(6)/ml). After standard semen analysis, the samples were subdivided into three aliquots in order to carry out: a) intrasperm L-C (free, total and acetylated) assay; b) sperm motility survival in bovine cervical mucus; c) sperm motility survival in culture medium. RESULTS: A strict correlation was found between L-C (total and acetylated) content and motility survival in cervical mucus. This is probably due to the fact that in cervical mucus lipids are an important energy source for sperm and to metabolize these lipids intrasperm L-C is essential. Therefore, L-C content can be considered as an indicator of sperm motility life-span in cervical mucus. A significant correlation, even if reduced compared with cervical mucus, was also observed between L-C (total and acetylated) content and sperm motility survival in the biological medium. This probably is because the L-C system modulates the reserves of free CoA, essential to the tricarboxylic acid cycle function. CONCLUSIONS: The intrasperm L-C deficit could be due to; a) alterations in the L-C uptake mechanisms in the epididimys due to inflammatory processes; b) lack of testosterone (L-C uptake is androgen-dependent). Therefore, the therapeutic implication of this finding is that where hypomotility is due to intrasperm L-C deficit, exogenous L-C administration or improvement of L-C epididymal testosterone-dependent uptake could promote the acquisition of sperm motility.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sperm motile efficiency.

To provide an alternative to presently available subjective ways of measuring sperm motility which often yield inconsistent data, we devised a method for determining sperm motile efficiency with it one can express objectively the amount of active sperm movement. Using a melangeur for counting white cell, semen is diluted 20-fold in normal saline solution. With the diluted semen on Thoma's hemocytometer, spermatozoa passing its small quarter line in one minute are counted, and the value is divided by the estimated number of spermatozoa per ml. The quotient is multiplied by 100 and expressed by %/min. This shows the active movement of a spermatozoon per minute. In the present study, we measured sperm motile efficiency in 162 male sterility patients, 64 cases showed values of 49%/min or less, with a mean of 20.3%/min, 46, between 50%/min and 99%/min, with a mean of 70.1%/min; and the remaining 52 over 100%/min, with a mean of 195.9%/min. Among these there were 10 cases of successful pregnancy with a mean sperm motile efficiency of 152.7%/min, and 69.0%/min at the lowest. Our new method requiring no special equipment can easily identify active sperm movement and is easily reproducible,

Cell Count↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of sperm motility using optical tweezers.

This study examines the use of optical trapping as a quantitative measure of sperm motility. The effects of laser trap duration and laser trapping power on sperm motility are described between sperm swimming force, swimmimg speed, and speed of progression (SOP) score. Sperm (SOP scores of 2-4) were trapped by a continuous-wave 1064 nm single-point gradient laser trap. Trap duration effects were quantified for 15, 10, and 5 seconds at 420 mW laser power. Laser power effects were quantified at powers of 420 mW, 350 mW, 300 mW, and 250 mW for five seconds. Swimming force, swimming speed, and SOP score relationships were examined at a trap duration and trapping power shown to minimally affect sperm motility. Swimming forces were measured by trapping sperm and subsequently decreasing laser power until the sperm escaped the trap. Swimming trajectories were calculated by custom-built software, and SOP scores were assigned by three qualified sperm scoring experts. A ubiquitous class of sperm were identified that swim with relatively high forces that are uncorrelated to swimming speed. It is concluded that sperm swimming forces measured by optical trapping provide new and valuable quantitative information to assess sperm motility.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Human sperm motility stimulating activity of a sulfono glycolipid isolated from Sri Lankan marine red alga Gelidiella acerosa.

AIM: To evaluate the sperm motility stimulating activity of a sulfono glycolipid (S-ACT-1) isolated from Gelidiella acerosa, a Sri Lankan marine red algae. METHODS: S-ACT-1, a white amorphous powder was separated from more polar fractions of the hexane soluble of 1:1 CH2Cl2/MeOH extract and subjected to 1H, 13C NMR and IR Spectroscopy after reverse phase HPLC for identification. Effects of S-ACT-1 on human sperm motility was assessed in vitro at 10, 100 and 1,000 microg/mL concentrations at 37 degrees C for 0, 5, 15, 30 and 60 min. RESULTS: S-ACT-1 was identified as a glycolipid sulfate. The lower dose increased the sperm motility slightly, whilst the medium dose significantly increased the motility (P < 0.05) from 5 min of incubation reaching a peak at 15 min and the stimulant effect was sustained throughout the experimental period. Furthermore, the medium dose rendered 80% of the immotile viable sperm motile. In contrast, the highest dose impaired the sperm motility. The sperm stimulating activity of S-ACT-1 was dose-dependent and had a bell-shaped dose response curve for all the 5 incubation periods. CONCLUSION: S-ACT-1 of Gelidiella acerosa is a Sulfono glycolipid. S-ACT-1 has a potent sperm motility stimulating activity in vitro and has the potential to be developed into a sperm stimulant.

Analysis of Variance↗