Melatonin and sperm motility.
Several substances can interfere with microtubular function eg. colchicine. Melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland has similar effects as colchicine on microtubules. In this study melatonin levels were determined in both plasma and seminal plasma of patients with good or impaired motility and forward progression. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean plasma and seminal plasma values of patients with good or impaired motility and forward progression. There was no correlation between seminal plasma melatonin and impaired motility or any other semen parameter. There was also no correlation between plasma and seminal plasma concentrations of melatonin. High seminal plasma melatonin concentrations were not necessarily associated with impaired sperm motility. From these it is concluded that seminal plasma melatonin plays no important role in sperm motility.
Bornman
M S
MS
Department of Urology, Medical University of Southern Africa, Medunsa.
Oosthuizen
J M
JM
Barnard
H C
HC
Schulenburg
G W
GW
Boomker
D
D
Reif
S
S
D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects; D012661:Semen / Q000032:analysis*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D008550:Melatonin