Experimental Research Of Influence Of Nifedipine On Human Sperm Function In Vitro

Objective: To investigate the effect of Nifedipine (NIF) of therapeutic dosages on human sperm motility function , acrosome reaction , plasma membrane functional Integrity and osmosensitive calcium influx in vitro.Methods: Sperm were aseptically obtained by masturbation and prepared by swim-up technique to produce a spermatozoa solution of high motility from 31 healthy fertile men.The spermatozoa solution was incubated with the different concentrations of Nifedipine at 37℃in vitro. Motive parameters were measured by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA). Measurements were carried out at 10 , 30 and 60 min in 11specimens , including Sperm motility and Sperm viability. The hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test was used to assess the sperm function. The FITC-PSA was used to stain the capacitated spermatozoa that have be incubated with the different concentrations of Nifedipine for 60 min in vitro.Acrosome reaction induced by progesterone was measured by means of a flow cytometer. The value of FITC fluorescence was accumulated and calculated by a special computer as the stained sample passed the flow cytometer. Intracellular calcium concentration was measured utilizing the fluorescent probe fura-2/AM before and after sperm medium dilution in distilled water.Results: The spermatozoa incubated with Nifedipine of therapeutic dosages in vitro showed significantly lower Sperm motility , Sperm viability and induced acrosome reaction rate than the control groups(p<0.01). Moreover the effect become more significant as the concentration increased. The spermatozoa incubated with Nifedipine of therapeutic dosages in vitro showed significantly lower HOS test scores than the control groups (p<0.01). Moreover they showed a reduced rise in intracellular calcium concentrations after hypo-osmotic challenge.Conclusion: Nifedipine of therapeutic dosages can inhibit human sperm motility function and acrosome reaction in vitro. They also can modify plasma membrane functional integrity and inhibit osmosensitive calcium influx. Nifedipine can result in male infertility in vitro. The results provide us background for studying whether Nifedipine can be used as a contraceptive which is placed in vagina before coitus.