Effects of methyl xanthines upon the spermatozoa adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) concentration in normal semen.

The aim of the present study was to ascertain the effect of methyl xanthines upon the spermatozoa ATP concentration in normal semen in vitro. 26 normal semen were studied. The specimens were diluted after liquefaction with equal volume of Lopata's buffer or Lopata's buffer plus 1 or 6 mM either of caffeine or pentoxifylline. The samples of semen were incubated at room temperature during 90, 180 and 240 minutes before motility and ATP determination by the firefly luciferin-luciferase method. Significant variation was observed in sperm motility nevertheless variations in the ATP concentration was not induced by any of the methyl xanthines we used.