Effect of methylene blue, indigo carmine, and renografin on human sperm motility

Objectives. To evaluate the effect of commonly used intraoperative vasograp hy and tissue staining agents, indigo carmine, methylene blue, and Renograf in, on sperm motility. Methods. Semen from 20 healthy men was obtained after 2 to 4 days of abstin ence, Sperm motility was initially evaluated in each specimen. Standard sol utions of indigo carmine, methylene blue, and Renografin-60 were diluted 2x and 4x with lactated Ringer's solution. Equal aliquots of sperm were mixed with undiluted and diluted drugs, and sperm motility was assessed. Results. Initial mean sperm motility was 70.3% +/- 3.0%. Undiluted methylen e blue and Renografin severely depressed sperm motility to 1.1% +/- 0.5% an d 2.3% +/- 0.7%, respectively (P < 0.05). Diluted methylene blue depressed motility to 4.9% +/- 1.8% and 11.2% +/- 3.0% (P < 0.05). Diluted Renografin depressed motility to 25.1% +/- 4.1% and 55.3% +/- 3.3% (P < 0.05). Althou gh undiluted and 2x-diluted indigo carmine moderately decreased sperm motil ity (48.9% +/- 3.2% and 61.7% +/- 3.0%, P < 0.05), 4x-diluted indigo carmin e had minimal effect on sperm motility (67.3% +/- 2.8%, P > 0.05). Lactated Ringer's solution had no effect on sperm motility. Conclusions. We found a severe, immediate reduction in sperm motility after exposure to undiluted standard solutions of methylene blue and Renografin. Dilution of Renografin significantly decreased its negative impact on the sperm motility, whereas the adverse effect of methylene blue remained fairl y constant even with increasing dilution. Sperm motility should be assessed prior to application of these agents, Sperm should be aspirated for immedi ate use and/or cryopreservation prior to the use of these agents. Indigo ca rmine may be safely used as a tissue stain or vasography agent with a minim al effect on sperm motility in dilutions of 4x and higher. UROLOGY 53:214-2 17, 1999. (C) 1999, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.