title: Effect of treatment with myo-inositol on semen parameters of patients undergoing an IVF cycle: in vivo study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myo-inositol (MI) is a precursor for the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol polyphosphates (PIPs). The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of its administration on semen parameters of male patients undergoing an in vitro fertilization cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo study. Samples were semen of 62 patients divided into three different groups: healthy fertile patients (Group A); patients with oligoasthenospermia (OA) (Group B); control group (CTR). The collected samples were analyzed by optic microscopy in order to evaluate semen's volume, spermatozoa's number and motility before and after density-gradient separation method. These parameters were evaluated before and after administration of 4000 mg/die of MI and 400 µg of folic acid for 2 months. The results were analyzed statistically with Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment there was a significant increase of basal and after density-gradient separation method spermatozoa concentration in Group B, and a significant increase of spermatozoa count after density-gradient separation method in Group A. The motility values were higher in healthy men than patients with OA before treatment, but there was no improvement in both groups after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exogenous administration of MI significantly improves semen's parameters both in patients with OA and in normal fertile men.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Surgery , Center of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, S. Bambino Hospital, University of Catania , Catania , Italy and.
authors.forename: Ferdinando Antonio
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Gulino
authors.affiliation: a Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Surgery , Center of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, S. Bambino Hospital, University of Catania , Catania , Italy and.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: a Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Surgery , Center of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, S. Bambino Hospital, University of Catania , Catania , Italy and.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marilli
authors.affiliation: b Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology , University of Catania , Catania , Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musmeci
authors.affiliation: a Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Surgery , Center of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, S. Bambino Hospital, University of Catania , Catania , Italy and.
authors.forename: Salvatore Giovanni
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: a Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Surgery , Center of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, S. Bambino Hospital, University of Catania , Catania , Italy and.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leanza
authors.affiliation: a Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Surgery , Center of Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, S. Bambino Hospital, University of Catania , Catania , Italy and.
authors.forename: Marco Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Palumbo
mesh_terms: D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D007294:Inositol
keywords: Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection; in vitro fertilization; myo-inositol; oligoasthenospermia; semen; spermatozoa