ARTIFICIAL STIMULATION OF CRYOPRESERVED HUMAN SPERMATOZOA BY SODIUM-NITROPRUSSIDE, 2-CHLOROADENOSINE, AND 2-DEOXYADENOSINE

Objective: We analyzed the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 2-ch loroadenosine (2-CLA), and 2-deoxyadenosine (2-DA) on sperm motility a nd motion characteristics of cryopreserved human spermatozoa, Methods: Thawed semen samples from healthy donors (n = 10) were incubated with the stimulants for 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min. The final concentrati ons used were SNP 25, 50, and 100 nM; 2-CLA 12.5, 25, and 50 mu M and 2-DA 0.5, 1, and 2.5 mM. Sperm motility and changes in motion characte ristics were measured on a computer-assisted semen analyzer, Results: Compared with control (0 min: no stimulant), a significant improvement in percentage motility was generally seen with all three stimulants e ven at 180 min, The sperm motility improved at concentrations of 50 an d 100 nM for SNP (except at 120 ruin), 25 and 50 mu M for 2-CLA, and a t all concentrations of 2-DA, Other sperm motion characteristics incre ased to varying extent with the stimulants, Of the three stimulants, a ll concentrations of 2-DA resulted in significant increases in curvili near velocity, average path velocity, and amplitude of lateral head di splacement at 60 min of incubation. Conclusions: All three stimulants significantly increased percentage motility for extended intervals of time, 2-DA also improved sperm motion characteristics, though these ch anges were less uniform with 2-CLA, Motility stimulation by these chem icals may be beneficial in the treatment of cryopreserved and oligozoo spermic sperm specimens for use in assisted reproduction.