[Stimulation of limited sperm motility and mucociliary clearance of the lung with theophyllin-ethylendiamin].

The influence of oral aminophylline (Phyllotemp ret., 2 X 225 mg) on the mucociliary clearance of the lung and on sperm motility was examined in 13 patients with asthenospermia vs. placebo because the anatomic structure of the cilia of the sperm cells and of the respiratory epithelium cells is similar. The mucociliary clearance was measured by means of radioactive tagged (99 mTc) monodisperse particles (erythrocytes from the patients). To attain a reproducible deposition pattern, the particles were inhaled during a slow inspiratory vital capacity maneuvre. The i.v. application of aminophylline (6 mg/kg body weight) to four normal subjects increased the mucociliary clearance in three of the four volunteers vs. placebo. The elimination rate of the particles increased under treatment with aminophylline from 29% +/- 12% to 46% +/- 19%, but only in seven of the 13 patients with asthenospermia. Sperm motility increased in all of the patients from 33% +/- 12% to 54% +/- 14%. No correlation was found between the increase in the mucociliary clearance and the sperm motility. The reasons for this difference will be discussed. Theophylline can be recommended for the treatment of male infertility in cases of asthenospermia.