The antiviral agents, MAP30 and GAP31, are not toxic to human spermatozoa and may be useful in preventing the sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of two virucidal compounds, MAP30 (Momordica anti-human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] protein; molecular weight, 30 kd) and GAP31 (Gelonium anti-HIV protein; molecular weight, 31 kd), obtained from Momordica charantia and Gelonium multiflorum, respectively, on the motility and vitality of human spermatocytes.

DESIGN

Prospective, controlled study.

SETTING

New York University School of Medicine.

PATIENT(S): Ten healthy men undergoing evaluation for infertility provided 10 semen specimens.

INTERVENTION(S): Human sperm were treated with the anti-HIV agents, MAP30 and GAP3 1. Nonoxynol-9, a commonly used spermicide, and phosphate-buffered saline were used as the positive and negative controls, respectively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The motility and vitality of human spermatocytes treated with MAP30 and GAP31 at doses that inhibit HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus.

RESULT(S): MAP30 and GAP31 did not inhibit the motility or vitality of human sperm cells over a dose range of 100-0.1 microg/mL, whereas nonoxynol-9 demonstrated spermicidal action on all 10 samples over the same dose range.

CONCLUSION(S): The antiviral agents, MAP30 and GAP31, were not toxic to human sperm cells at the doses at which they inhibit HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus. They had no effect on the motility of spermatozoa, even at a dose of 1,000 times the maximum effective concentration. These results indicate that MAP30 and GAP31 may be useful as nonspermicidal protection against sexually transmitted diseases.