PERSISTENT EFFECTS OF PENTOXIFYLLINE ON HUMAN SPERM MOTILITY, AFTER DRUG REMOVAL, IN NORMOZOOSPERMIC AND ASTHENOZOOSPERMIC INDIVIDUALS

The aim of the study was to compare the in vitro effect of pentoxifyll ine on human sperm motility when added prior to sperm selection and th e persistence of the response after drug removal in normo- and astheno zoospermic individuals. The sperm samples were obtained from 22 men wh o were repeatedly asthenozoospermic or normozoospermic. Sperm movement was measured using computer-assisted semen analysis over 180 min. Per centage motility and progressive motility were increased in both normo - and asthenozoospermic samples (P < 0.05). Curvilinear velocity, ampl itude of lateral head displacement and beat-cross frequency were incre ased in both groups (P < 0.05). Straight-line velocity was increased s ignificantly in the normozoospermic group only. In both normo- and ast henozoospermic individuals pentoxifylline appeared to enhance sperm mo tility for at least 180 min after drug removal. This should prevent an y potentially toxic effects of the drug on oocytes if it is used to en hance sperm motility during in vitro fertilization.