title: Effects of cholic acid and 'Protectaid' formulations on human sperm motility and ultrastructure.
abstract: Cholic acid (sodium cholate) and the other active ingredients of F-5 gel preparations in use for the impregnation of a new vaginal sponge (Protectaid) with contraceptive and anti-sexually transmitted disease properties, were assessed for their effects on human sperm motility and ultrastructure. Cholic acid (CA) produced an inhibition of motility which was both dose- and time-dependent. A complete suppression of motility was obtained at 30 s by a CA concentration of 1.25%. Nonoxynol-9 (NX9) compared with benzalkonium chloride (BZC) showed no significant difference at the concentration required (0.025%) to give a total inhibition of sperm motility after exposure for 30 s. The addition of F-5A gel containing 0.5% of each one of the spermicide ingredients (CA, NX9 and BZC) produced the total suppression of sperm motility within 30 s at a dilution of 1/50. Another preparation, F-5B gel, containing the spermicide ingredients at different concentrations (1.25% CA, 0.125% NX9 and 0.05% BZC) produced this same effect with a 1/10 dilution. Exposure of semen to a CA concentration of 1.25% or to 1/10 dilutions of F-5A gel for 30 s led to profound changes of sperm ultrastructure studied by scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. SEM and TEM findings indicate that CA acts as a spermicide through its 'natural detergent' properties, damaging the outer plasma membrane of sperm cells. Protectaid formulations affect sperm motility and viability in a similar way.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, UFR Kremlin Bicêtre, Université Paris XI, France.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Courtot
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gravanis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psychoyos
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D019826:Cholic Acid; D002793:Cholic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017137:Nonoxynol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D002793:Cholic Acids; D017137:Nonoxynol; D019826:Cholic Acid