Pentoxifylline stimulates various sperm motion parameters and cervical mucus penetrability in patients with asthenozoospermia

Pentoxifylline (PTX) was incubated in vitro with human spermatozoa to exami ne its effects on sperm motility characteristics and bovine cervical mucus penetrability (BCMP). Sperm motion parameters were assessed by computer-ass isted motion analysis (CASA) using HTM-IVOS and BCMP was evaluated using th e Penetrak kit. In vitro incubation with PTX (1 mg ml(-1); 3.6 mM, 30 min) did not significantly change percentage motility, average path velocity (VA P), straight-line velocity (VSL) or beat cross frequency (BCF) of spermatoz oa from normozoospermic or asthenozoospermic samples. However, it significa ntly increased curvilinear velocity (VCL), amplitude of lateral head displa cement (ALH) and hyperactivated motility (HA), and significantly decreased linearity (LIN) of spermatozoa from both samples. Pentoxifylline was found to increase BCMP scores for spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic samples, but did not affect scores for spermatozoa from normozoospermic samples. Bovine cervical mucus penetrability (BCMP) was found to be positively and signifi cantly correlated with the percentage motility of both non-PTX-treated and PTX-treated spermatozoa for asthenozoospermic samples. These results demons trated that PTX enhanced several motion sperm parameters as well as BCMP in asthenozoospermic samples and suggest a potential use of the methylanthine in infertile patients with motility defects undergoing artificial insemina tion.