title: Pentoxifylline improves sperm capacitation and in vitro fertilization of oocytes in the golden hamster.
abstract: Pentoxifylline (PF) is used to improve motility of spermatozoa from subfertile or nonfertile males to accomplish in vitro fertilization in humans. The possible adverse effect of PF on pre- and peri-implantation stage embryo development in a suitable rodent model, such as the golden hamster, is yet to be determined. In this study, hamster cauda epididymal spermatozoa were exposed to different concentrations (0.23 to 3.6 mM) of PF, and their quantitative [percentage of motility] and qualitative [Score 0 to 5] motility were assessed and values expressed as the sperm motility index. Upon addition of spermatozoa to dishes containing PF, an immediate increase in sperm motility and sperm motility index was evident, which increased up to 4 to 6 h and then declined. The sperm motility index increase by PF was dose-dependant, and >or= 1.8 mM PF was detrimental after 4 h. The optimum dose of PF was found to be 0.45 mM. To assess the fertilizing ability of PF-treated spermatozoa, in vitro fertilization was carried out. Fertilization rates for spermatozoa treated with 3.6 mM PF were lower (53.8 +/- 7.8) than for the controls (69.5 +/- 10.2), whereas treatment with 0.45 mM PF increased the rates (91.6 +/- 4.3) compared with that of the controls (80.2 +/- 5.9). In conclusion, low concentrations (0.23 to 0.45 mM) of PF improve sperm capacitation and fertilization of oocytes in vitro in the golden hamster.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Biology and Molecular Endocrinology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rupasri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jayaprakash
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sreenivasa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Seshagiri