COLCHICINE INHIBITS SPERMATOZOAL MOTILITY IN-VITRO

Objective-To study the in vitro effect of colchicine on the motility o f normal human spermatozoa. Methods-Seminal fluid was obtained from 15 normal healthy volunteers. Following the swim-up technique for sperm selection, samples of sperm were incubated with different concentratio ns of colchicine and their forward motility was assessed after 2, 17, and 24 hours. Results-Colchicine concentrations of 10 mug/mL and 20 mu g/mL reduced spermatozoal motility, while a concentration of 2 mug/mL did not have a significant inhibitory effect. Reduction in motility wa s observed after a minimum incubation of 18 hours. After 24 hours 90-9 5% of the spermatozoa was shown to be viable by eosin staining. Conclu sion-Relatively high concentration of colchicine may affect in vitro m otility of sperm, probably by its direct effect on the microtubules ra ther than by causing spermatozoal death.