title: The effects of in vitro cocaine exposure on human sperm motility, intracellular calcium, and oocyte penetration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if cocaine exposure affects human sperm motility, intracellular calcium level, and fertilizing capability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human semen samples were treated with 1 to 1,000 microM cocaine hydrochloride for up to 2 hours in vitro. Sperm motion kinematics were measured by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Spermatozoan intracellular calcium was determined by laser cytometry. The sperm fertilizing capability was assessed using the zona-free hamster oocyte penetration test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a short exposure (15 minutes) to cocaine, the sperm motion kinematic parameters, straight line velocity and linearity, were decreased in the high concentration groups. However, after a longer exposure (2 hours) to cocaine, the differences were no longer significant. Cocaine treatment did not alter spermatozoa intracellular calcium levels. Most importantly, human sperm treated with cocaine at a high concentration were fully capable of penetrating zona-free hamster oocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human spermatozoa acutely exposed to high concentrations of cocaine initially demonstrate a decrease in two motion kinematics, straight line velocity and linearity. However, overall, cocaine exposure had no significant effects on sperm motility and fertilizing capability.
authors.affiliation: C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201.
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Yelian
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ginsburg
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Doerr
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Armant
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine; D002118:Calcium