EFFECT OF LIPID-PEROXIDATION ON BEATING FREQUENCY OF HUMAN SPERM TAIL

The tail beat frequency (TBF) of sperm was measured with a sperm-head fixation method which was based on the tendency of sperm to attach its head to the surface of a glass slide. Ferrous sulphate, a promotor of lipid peroxidation, inhibited TBF within 5 min of mixing with sperm. This inhibition can be reversed dose-dependently by superoxide dismuta se, catalase, glutathione, and albumin. It was concluded that TBF coul d be a new pharmacological model for studying the effect of lipid pero xidation and antioxidant on sperm motility. Both enzymatic and nonenzy matic antioxidants can be screened with this method.