Effect of caffeine and of pentoxifylline on the motility and metabolism of human spermatozoa

• Published in: Journal of reproduction & fertility Vol. 90; no. 1; pp. 147 - 156
• Main Authors: Rees, J M, Ford, W C, Hull, M G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Society for Reproduction and Fertility 01.09.1990
• Subjects: Adenosine Diphosphate - metabolism; Adenosine Triphosphate - metabolism; Caffeine - pharmacology; Humans; Male; Pentoxifylline - pharmacology; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Spermatozoa - metabolism; Stimulation, Chemical
• ISSN: 1470-1626; 0022-4251; 1741-7899
• DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.0900147

Human spermatozoa were washed and incubated with 6 m m -caffeine or 0·15–1·2 m m -pentoxifylline. Sperm motility was measured by time-lapse photography, the rate of glycolysis by the release of tritiated water from 1 m m -[3- 3 H] d -glucose and the rate of mitochondrial respiration by the release of 14 CO 2 from 1 m m -[U- 14 C]- l lactate or 1 m m -[2- 14 C]pyruvate. Caffeine stimulated the majority of spermatozoa to convert from the 'rolling' to the 'yawing' mode of progression with a concomitant increase in lateral head displacement from 4·1 ± 0·09 μm (343) to 6·7 ± 0·25 μm (105) (mean ± s.e.m. (number of spermatozoa)). There was a 45% decline in the percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa and a very small decrease in their velocity. Pentoxifylline had only a slight effect on lateral head displacement or percentage motility but produced a significant increase in velocity. Both compounds increased the rate of glycolysis by >40% but elevated the rate of 14 CO 2 production to a smaller extent. The concentrations of ATP and ADP changed very little. We conclude that the glycolytic pathway in human spermatozoa can respond efficiently to changes in energy demand. Keywords: spermatozoa; metabolism; motility; ATP; man