title: Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists and human sperm motility.
abstract: Several beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents have been evaluated for spermicidal activity using a transmembrane migration method. The rank order of potency of the active compounds was: penbutolol greater than (+)-propranolol greater than bufuralol greater than (-)-alprenolol greater than oxprenolol greater than metoprolol. Atenolol, pindolol, practolol, tolamolol were without activity. The observed potencies of spermicidal activity are believed to be unrelated to beta-blocking activities, and we have shown that whilst they are not predictable from lipid solubility or nonspecific membrane properties of the compound alone, both these aspects appear to play a role in this pharmacological activity.
authors.affiliation: Cambridge Research Institute, Histon, UK.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Curtis-Prior
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gadd
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol