Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) analog and phosphodiesterase inhibitor (IBMX) ameliorate human sperm capacitation and motility

Objectives

Human sperm quality is decreasing progressively. One of the foremost reasons for infertility is the failure in sperm capacitation. We examined the influence of a cAMP (cyclic-adenosine mono phosphate analog) + IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) on the motility and capacitation rate of human sperm over time.

Material and methods

Samples were gotten from 20 asthenozoospermic infertile patients referring to the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research unit of the infertility research center, Qom, Iran. Samples were processed with a Density Gradient Centrifuging. Spermatozoa were divided into 4 groups: control, experimental 1, 2 and 3 (E1, E2, E3) based on the dose/time schedules (cAMP 5mmol + IBMX 0.2mmol/2, 4, and 6 h, respectively). The computer-assisted sperm analysis and chlortetracycline assays were used to measure sperm motility and capacitation.

Results

After incubation with a cAMP analog and IBMX, the levels of progressive motile sperms considerably improved in all experimental groups compared to the control group (E1 = 18.89 ± 7.1, E2 = 30 ± 9.7, E3 = 26.3 ± 9.6 vs Control = 10.28 ± 6.2, P < 0.05) especially in E2 group (P < 0.05), indicating a greater effect of db cAMP (5 mmol) and IBMX (0.2 mmol) for 4 h compared to the same doses at 2 and 6 h. Also, non-progressive motile sperms significantly decreased in E2 group compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, both patterns C and B were substantially improved in all experimental groups especially in E2 group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our findings support that the supplementation of sperm with db cAMP + IBMX specially for 4 h, could be useful for men with asthenozoospermia to improve the success of assisted reproductive technology.