The effects of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, forskolin, and theophylline on motility parameters in gossypol-treated human sperm.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of gossypol on human sperm in vitro and the mechanism for the effect.

DESIGN

Fresh sperm ejaculates obtained from normal donors to the University of Kentucky Andrology Donor Program were exposed to gossypol. Motility was studied manually and using computer-assisted sperm analysis. In subsequent experiments, the effects of forskolin, theophylline, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) on sperm motion were measured.

SETTING

University of Kentucky Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Andrology Laboratory.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Manual and computer-assisted measurements of sperm motility and motion characteristics.

RESULTS

Gossypol inhibited sperm motility, which could be reversed partially by increasing cAMP.

CONCLUSION

Gossypol exposure in vitro adversely affects sperm motility in a dose- and time-dependent manner by a cAMP-dependent mechanism.