Comparison between sperm treated with pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine using hypo-osmotic swelling test

Abstract

Objective: To compare the percentage of sperm tail membrane swelling under hypo-osmotic conditions between sperm treated with pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine Design: Experimental in vitro study Material and Method: Thirty normal semen samples from male partners of infertile couples were collected. After sperm preparation by two-layer Percoll gradient method, each sperm sample was divided into three specimens. Pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine were separately added into two specimens, while the third specimen was used as a control. Hypo-osmotic swelling test was performed in all specimens. Percentage of swollen spermatozoa in each specimen was evaluated. Results: The mean percentage of swollen spermatozoa in the semen samples supplemented with pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine were both significantly higher than those in the control (82.8 ± 7.7 and 83.0 ± 9.5 vs 70.8 ± 12.7; p < 0.001). There was no significant differences of swollen spermatozoa between pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine (p = 0.898). Conclusion: Addition of pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine to the sperm prepared by the two-layer Percoll gradient method can almost equally enhance the sperm membrane integrity. Therefore, it may be beneficial to add these compounds to sperm preparation for use in assisted reproduction.