title: Mitochondrial respiration inhibitors and human sperm motility: implication in the development of spermicides.
abstract: Three inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, rotenone, antimycin A, potassium cyanide and the uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, 2,4-dinitrophenol, were tested for their sperm immobilizing effects with a trans-membrane migration method. None of these drugs inhibited human sperm motility at the concentrations of 10(-6), 10(-5), 10(-4) and 10(-3) M. The suggestion to develop spermicidal contraceptives from mitochondrial respiration inhibitors could not be substantiated; and the theory that motility inhibiting drugs act primarily on the sperm membrane was reconfirmed.
mesh_terms: D000968:Antimycin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects*; D011190:Potassium Cyanide / Q000494:pharmacology; D012402:Rotenone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; D012402:Rotenone; D000968:Antimycin A; D011190:Potassium Cyanide