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The effects of lignocaine on human sperm motility
S J Bennett1, V Bolton, J Parsons
1Assisted Conception Unit, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to assess the motility of human sperm incubated with various concentrations of lignocaine.
Methods:
Eleven semen samples with a sperm density greater than or equal to 20 x 10(6) ml and progressive motility greater than or equal to 40% were prepared using a swim-up technique. Aliquots from each sample were incubated for 4 hr under capacitating conditions with lignocaine concentrations of 100, 10, 1, and 0.1 microgram/ml and without additional lignocaine as a control. Digital computerized motion analysis was performed on all samples at 1, 2, and 4 hr after the addition of lignocaine.
Results:
After 2 hr of incubation a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in the percentage of sperm with a curvilinear velocity greater than 100 microns/sec was observed in those samples incubated with 100 micrograms/ml lignocaine. This stimulatory effect was no longer apparent after a further 2 hr of incubation. No other significant changes were identified in any of the motility parameters examined.
Conclusions:
No adverse effects on human sperm motility were identified during incubation with low concentrations of lignocaine. A transient stimulatory effect was observed at a lignocaine concentration of 100 micrograms/ml.