Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, dexamethasone and procarbazine: effect on seminal plasma sialyltransferase activity

The influence of chemotherapy agents, doxorubicin (adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, procarbazine, and dexamethasone on the activity of sialyltransferase in human semen has been examined. Aliquots of 25 mcL semen were incubated for 2 hours with the above substances at concentrations ranging from 10 to 800 mcg/incubation mixture. The measurement of sialyltransferase activity was based on the incorporation of radioactive sialic acid from CMP (14) C sialic acid) into asialofetuin. Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, at the maximal concentration of 800 mcg/incubation mixture exhibited an inhibiting effect on sialyltransferase activity which accounted for 15.7 +or- 16% and 12.2 +or- 16%, respectively. The rate of inhibition following incubation with maximal doses of dexamethasone (400 mcg) was 25.3 +or- 13%, respectively. The rate of inhibition following incubation with maximal doses of dexamethasone (400 mcg) was 25.3 +or- 12%. Inhibition caused by procarbazine did not exceed 5%. Inhibition of sialyltransferase in human semen by the materials examined in this study can diminish the transfer of sialic acid, thus interfering with normal glycoprotein's and glycolipid's syntheses in semen and possibly also in other fluids and tissues.