Effect of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor Pentoxyfylline on human sperm motility

Tyrode fluid and Tyrode fluid plus Pentoxifylline were individually added to aliquots of semen samples obtained from 6 normal men and 6 infertile patients considered to have idiopathic normogonadotropic oligoasthenozoospermia. Pentoxifylline was added to final concentrations of 0.15, 0.30 and 0.60 mM. One aliquot with no addition served as control. Samples were incubated in 37 degrees C and observed by light microscopy at 30 minutes and at 1, 2 and 4 hours after obtaining the material. At observation time, semen quality was evaluated by determining the percentages of forwardly progressive spermatozoa, slowly progressive spermatozoa, "in situ" motile spermatozoa, live and non-motile spermatozoa and dead spermatozoa. Results reported included only the first and last category. Tyrode fluid did not affect significantly the motility and the duration of activity of spermatozoa. Ejaculated human spermatozoa both from normal and asthenozoospermic men added the Pentoxifylline at 0.30 and 0.60 mM showed a longer lasting activity than those of control semen and semen added only with Tyrode fluid.