Sperm immobilizing potency of amitriptyline and imipramine: measured with transmembrane migration.

The inhibitory effect of amitriptyline and imipramine on human sperm motility was measured in vitro with a transmembrane migration method. The EC50 for amitriptyline and imipramine were 170 microM and 160 microM respectively. They were more potent than any other drug that had been tested on this pharmacological model. Transmembrane migration method was less sensitive than turbidimetric method to detect the sperm immobilizing effect of drugs.