EFFECT OF PENTOXIFYLLINE ON HUMAN SPERM MOTILITY AND FERTILIZING-CAPACITY

The effect of pentoxifylline (PF) treatment on human sperm motility an d fertilizing capacity was assessed in 43 couples undergoing IVF/ET, a s 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 spe rm samples resulted in higher sperm motility values compared to swim-u p in all categories of sperm samples. Furthermore, progressive motilit y increased in all sperm groups following PF treatment (astheno-spermi c: +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. 2 9.1%, respectively; p < .05). Moreover, PF treatment of human sperm re sulted in 9 viable pregnancies (IVF/ET: 5, AIH/IUI: 4) and one biochem ical (IVF/ET), PF improving sperm motility and fertilizing capacity ap pears to be a promising motility stimulant.