The inhibitory effect of anticonvulsants on human sperm motility: measured with a trans-membrane migration method

The in-vitro effects of four anticonvulsant drugs (phenytoin, phenobarbitone, carbamazepine and valproate) on human sperm motility were studied with a trans-membrane migration method. Sperm motility was measured either immediately after semen had been mixed with the drug or after a 2-hour pre-incubation at 37 degrees C. When the drug effect was evaluated after the semen-drug mixture had been pre-incubated for 2 hours, the concentration of phenytoin, carbamazepine and valproate that inhibited sperm motility to 50% of control (EC50) was 1.59, 4.23, and 5.00 mM, respectively. If sperm motility was immediately measured without preincubation, the EC50 was increased to 8.47 and 100.00 mM for carbamazepine and valproate, respectively, whereas phenytoin could not inhibit sperm motility to less than 50% of the control at the tested concentrations. Both with and without pre-incubation, phenobarbitone, even up to 12.92 mM, could not inhibit sperm motility to less than 50% of the control. The result was compatible with previous findings that drugs with a membrane stabilizing effect may inhibit human sperm motility. This study provided further information regarding the application of human sperm motility as a cellular model for future pharmacological research.