Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine preserves sperm motility after swim-up.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) on sperm motility.


METHODS
Controlled study using motile sperm suspensions obtained by the swim-up technique.


METHODS
Endocrine Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College London Medical School.


METHODS
Men attending the Reproductive Medicine Unit at University College London Hospitals, Obstetric Hospital, for routine fertility investigations.


METHODS
Motile sperm suspensions were incubated with either culture medium (control) or L-NMMA (test) for 24 hours at 37 degrees C.


METHODS
Motion characteristics were assessed manually and by computer-assisted sperm motility analyzer.


RESULTS
In all 23 preparations either equivalent or significantly higher percentage total motility and percentage rapidly motile sperm were observed in the test compared with the control samples at 24 hours. There were no significant differences in motion characteristics between test and control specimens at 6 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
NG-monomethyl-L-arginine inhibits the formation of nitric oxide; its ability to prevent sperm motility decline indicates that the arginine-nitric oxide pathway may play a role in modulating sperm motility and motility survival.
Department of Obsetrics and Gynaecology, University College London Medical School, United Kingdom.
D M
DM
Perera
M
M
Katz
S R
SR
Heenbanda
S
S
Marchant
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase