Evaluation of ten potential organic spermicides

The following compounds, selected as possible vaginal or cervical spermicides, were tested in vitro for their ability to decrease the motility of human spermatozoa: cytochalasins A and B, N-cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), N-cetyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium deoxycholate (SDC), quinine and emetine hydrochlorides, 4-nitrophenyl-4-guanidinobenzoate hydrochloride, n-hexanal, and 6-amidino-2-(4-amidinophenyl) dilactate. The most effective spermicide was the antibacterial cytochalasin A which instantaneously abolished motility at a concentration of 0.01%. The two cationic detergents CPC and CTAB were also very potent and instantly immobilised spermatozoa at a concentration of 0.1%. Quinine, emetine and 4-nitrophenyl-4-guanidinobenzoate hydrochlorides at a concentration of 0.1% abolished motility in 30-60 minutes. n-Hexanal, SDC, and the antihaemostatic compound 6-amidino-2-(4-amidinophenyl) dilactate at 0.1% depressed motility but never rendered the sperm completely immotile. Cytochalasin B had little or no effect on sperm motility even at 0.1%.