title: Pentoxifylline-mediated reduction of superoxide anion production by human spermatozoa.
abstract: The release of superoxide anions from sperm suspensions prepared for in vitro fertilization was measured by superoxide dismutase-inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome C in response to phorbol myristate acetate. The superoxide anion production was found to be within the range of 0.21-3.76 nmoles O2- per 10(6) spermatozoa. Spermatozoa pre-incubated in the presence of 3.7 or 10 mM of pentoxifylline for 30 min at 37 degrees C released less (P less than 0.001) superoxide anions than did the untreated-control spermatozoa. It has been concluded that the inhibitory effect of pentoxifylline on superoxide anion production may be a factor contributing to the improvement of sperm preparation before insemination, and may, thereby, increase the fertility potential.
authors.affiliation: Vuk Vrhovac Institute for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gavella
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lipovac
mesh_terms: D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D013481:Superoxides; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D010431:Pentoxifylline