ANTIBIOTICS - EFFECT ON CRYOPRESERVED-THAWED HUMAN SPERM MOTILITY IN-VITRO

Objective: To analyze the motility and fertilizing capacity of sperm t reated with different antibiotics. Design: Prospective comparative stu dy. Setting: Clinical and academic research environment. Patient(s): P ooled cryopreserved donor sperm (n = 14). Intervention(s): Sperm were washed with Percoll and resuspended in HEPES-buffered human tubal flui d medium containing either amoxicillin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin hydro chloride, nitrofurantoin monohydrate, doxycycline hyclate, cefuroxime axetil, or control medium. Main Outcome Measure(s): Sperm kinematic an d fertilizing parameters. Result(s): Sperm hyperactivation was decreas ed in physiologic concentrations of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride and do xycycline hyclate over the course of 48 hours. At pharmacologic concen trations, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, cefuroxime axetil, and nitrofur antoin monohydrate adversely affected motility with decreased rapid pr ogression. Cessation of motility occurred in cefuroxime axetil and nit rofurantoin monohydrate. Sperm hyperactivation was also absent. Cefuro xime axetil decreased the percentage of intact acrosomes. In contrast, physiologic doses of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride or ofloxacin enhance d sperm fertilizing capacity. Conclusion(s): Ciprofloxacin affected hy peractivation by altering membrane properties, whereas doxycycline inh ibited the capacitation process. Cessation of motility in cefuroxime a xetil was linked to disrupted sperm head membranes. Sperm motility and fertilizing capacity were decreased in nitrofurantoin because of decr eased metabolism. The positive effect of ofloxacin on fertilizing capa city did not involve changes in acrosome. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.