title: Thyroxin Is Useful to Improve Sperm Motility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the non-genomic action of thyroxin on sperm kinetic and its probable use to improve sperm recovery after applying an en- richment method like "swim-up" in comparison with the available one, pentoxifylline.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an experimental study. A total of 50 patients were re- cruited, followed by infertility consultation. Conventional sperm assays were performed according to World Health Organization criteria-2010 (WHO-2010). A Computer Aided Semen Analysis System was employed to assess kinetic parameters and concentrations. Number of the motile sperm recovered after preparation technique was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Addition of T4 (0.002 µg/ml) to semen samples increased hypermotility at 20 minutes (control: 14.18 ± 5.1% vs. 17.66 ± 8.88%, P<0.03, data expressed as mean ± SD) and remained unchanged after 40 minutes. Significant differences were found in the motile sperm recovered after swim-up (control: 8.93×10(6) ± 9.52× 06vs. 17.20×10(6) ± 21.16×10(6), P<0.03), achieving all of the tested samples a desirable threshold value for artificial insemination outcome, while adding pentoxifylline increased the number of recovered sperm after swim-up in 60% of the studied cases. No synergism between two treatments could be determined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose a new physiological tool to artificially improve insemination. The discussion opens windows to investigate unknown pathways involved in sperm ca- pacitation and gives innovative arguments to better understand infertility mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Male Fertility, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gabriela Ruth
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Mendeluk
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Endocrinology, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosales
keywords: Artificial Insemination; Pentoxifylline; Sperm Motility; Thyroxin