title: Effect of acetylcarnitine treatment in oligoasthenospermic patients.
abstract: Acetylcarnitine (AC), present in human spermatozoa and seminal fluid, plays an important role in sperm metabolism. To further investigate the effect of AC on sperm quality, AC (4 g/day) was given to 20 patients with idiopathic oliogasthenospermia for 60 days. AC had no effects on sperm density and total motility, but it did significantly increase progressive sperm motility (mean +/- SEM: 21.7 +/- 3.2% vs 38.2 +/- 4.7). The increment in sperm motility was sustained ( > or = 40%) in 12 patients (mean increment 2.7 fold). This parameter returned to basal value 4 months after therapy discontinuation. Five pregnancies occurred during treatment and only 2 during the 4 months follow-up ensuing therapy discontinuation.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Catania Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Moncada
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cimino
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Calogero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mongioì
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Agata
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000108:Acetylcarnitine