title: Effects of antiepileptic drugs on sperm motility of normal controls and epileptic patients with long-term therapy.
abstract: The in vitro effects of four antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on human sperm motility were studied with a transmembrane migration method. Sperm motility of epileptic patients receiving chronic AED therapy was also investigated. Sperm motility was measured immediately after semen had been mixed with AED and after a 2-h preincubation at 37 degrees C. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that AEDs inhibited sperm motility. When the drug effect was evaluated after the semen-AED mixture had been preincubated for 2 h, sperm motility was inhibited to 50% of control at concentrations of 1.59, 4.23, and 5.00 mM for phenytoin, carbamazepine, and valproate, respectively. Both with and without preincubation, phenobarbital, even up to 12.92 mM, did not inhibit the motility to less than 50% of the control. In the in vivo study, poor sperm motility was noted in epileptic patients with long-term AED therapy despite serum levels within the therapeutic range. Shorter duration of activity of spermatozoa was also observed in these patients. Interference with sperm membrane function by AEDs may be the underlying mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D014635:Valproic Acid; D010672:Phenytoin; D010634:Phenobarbital