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Colchicine inhibits spermatozoal motility in vitro
A Ben-Chetrit1, E Ben-Chetrit, R Nitzan
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ein Kerem, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Objective:
To study the in vitro effect of colchicine on the motility of normal human spermatozoa.
Methods:
Seminal fluid was obtained from 15 normal healthy volunteers. Following the swim-up technique for sperm selection, samples of sperm were incubated with different concentrations of colchicine and their forward motility was assessed after 2, 17, and 24 hours.
Results:
Colchicine concentrations of 10 micrograms/mL and 20 micrograms/mL reduced spermatozoal motility, while a concentration of 2 micrograms/mL did not have a significant inhibitory effect. Reduction in motility was observed after a minimum incubation of 18 hours. After 24 hours 90-95% of the spermatozoa was shown to be viable by eosin staining.
Conclusion:
Relatively high concentration of colchicine may affect in vitro motility of sperm, probably by its direct effect on the microtubules rather than by causing spermatozoal death.