Effects of pentoxifylline on human sperm motility in normospermic individuals using computer-assisted analysis

Abstract

Objective: To determine if pentoxifylline has an in vitro effect on human sperm motility in subjects with normal semen analysis.

Design: Prospective, longitudinal study of the effect of pentoxifylline on normospermic semen samples using computerized analysis.

Setting: The Assisted Conception Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast.

Subjects: Eight healthy male volunteers of proven fertility within 2 years of study and whose general health was unchanged in the intervening period.

Results: Pentoxifylline did not consistently increase the number of progressively motile sperm or their straight line velocity (VSL). In marked contrast, the curvilinear velocity (VCL) was increased significantly at all times, up to and including 240 minutes of exposure to the drug. This resulted in a substantial reduction in the linearity (VSL/VCL) of sperm progression. The most dramatic effect that pentoxifylline had on sperm movement was to increase the amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) over the same time interval. This change was accompanied by an increase in the beat cross frequency.

Conclusions: The addition of pentoxifylline to prepared sperm samples from normospermic men does not increase the number of progressively motile sperm nor the progressive velocity. However, it does significantly alter the quality of certain characteristics of already motile sperm.