In vitro effects of nicotine on human spermatozoa.
Washed human spermatozoa from 12 normozoospermic donors were treated with different concentrations of nicotine 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mm and were compared to spermatozoa suspended in nutrient medium only (control). Computer-aided sperm analysis was used to assess sperm kinematic properties after 30, 60, 120 and 180 min of incubation. Viability was assessed by means of a dye exclusion staining technique (eosin/nigrosin), while acrosome-reacted cells were identified under a fluorescent microscope using fluorescein isothiocyanate-Pisum sativum agglutinin as a probe. Nicotine significantly reduced total motility, progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, amplitude of lateral head displacement, beat cross-frequency, viability and caused spontaneous acrosome reaction at concentrations of ≥5.0 mm after 2 and 3 h of exposure. Nicotine concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mm had no significant effect (P < 0.05) on spermatozoa except that 1.0 mm significantly decreased (P < 0.05) sperm progressive motility at 2 and 3 h of incubation as well as viability after 3 h of incubation. This study concludes that the occurrence of high levels of nicotine in the body and seminal fluid might adversely affect fertilisation capacity of human spermatozoa through a mechanism that involves decreased motility, viability and premature induction of the acrosome reaction.
Division of Medical Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa; Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
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Maartens
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D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine
Acrosome reaction; in vitro; motility; nicotine; viability