[Nifedipine modifies plasma membrane functional integrity and inhibits osmosensitive calcium influx in human sperm].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of nifedipine of therapeutic dosage on the plasma membrane functional integrity and osmosensitive calcium influx in human sperm in vitro.


METHODS
Sperm samples were aseptically obtained from 10 healthy fertile men by masturbation and prepared by swim-up technique to produce a spermatozoal solution of high motility. The solution was then incubated with nifedipine of 20, 100 and 20 x 10(3) ng/ml respectively at 37 degrees C in vitro. The hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test was done to assess the sperm function. Intracellular calcium concentration was measured by fluorescent probe fura-2/AM before and after sperm medium dilution in distilled water.


RESULTS
The 20 x 103 ng/ml group showed significantly lower HOS scores than the control (P < 0.01). The 20, 100 and 20 x 10(3) ng/ml groups all showed significantly lower Ca2+ fluorescence D-value than the control (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Nifedipine can modify plasma membrane functional integrity and inhibit osmosensitive calcium influx in human sperm and affect male fertility in vitro in therapeutic dose.
Liu
Xi-jun
XJ
Department of Urology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China. liuxijj@21cn.com
Xu
Ji-xiu
JX
Li
Hai-chao
HC
Mi
Zhen-guo
ZG
Xu
Ning
N
Wang
Hui-yu
HY
D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D013087:Spermatids / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D009543:Nifedipine; D002118:Calcium