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Updated: Jul 25, 2026
Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
Published on: March 1, 2019
Bromocriptine reverses the inhibitory effect of macrophages on human sperm motility
A Scommegna1, S H Ye, G S Prins
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
Objective:
To determine the effects of PRL suppression on the activation of murine peritoneal macrophages and their subsequent effects on human sperm motility.
Design:
Laboratory study.
Interventions:
Mice were treated with subcutaneous implants of 2.5 mg bromocriptine pellets 7 days before bacillus of calmette and guerin (BCG), a strain of Mycobacterium bovis, injection for activation of macrophages. Bromocriptine treatment, which significantly suppressed circulating PRL levels, continued through the day of peritoneal macrophage collection. Macrophages were subsequently cultured for 4 days and culture supernatant was collected.
Main Outcome Measures:
Human sperm were incubated for 4 hours in the presence of culture medium or culture supernatant from control and treated mice. Motion analysis was performed at 0, 2, and 4 hours.
Results:
A significant decrease in human sperm motility was observed in the presence of culture supernatant from activated murine peritoneal macrophages. After 4 hours of incubation, sperm motility decreased from 69% +/- 3% in the nonactivated macrophage control group to 37% +/- 6% in the BCG- activated macrophage group. The suppressive effect of soluble products of activated macrophages on human sperm motility was reversed when mice were rendered hypoprolactinemic with bromocriptine. Motility after 4 hours was 56% +/- 3% in the BCG-bromocriptine group. Simultaneous administration of bromocriptine and PRL (100 ng per mouse daily) restored the inhibitory effect of soluble products of activated macrophages on sperm motility (36% +/- 5% motile).
Conclusions:
PRL may modulate the deleterious effects of activated macrophages on human sperm motility, thereby suggesting novel and useful methods for the modification of the immune response in early reproduction.
Insights
Prolactin (PRL) suppression with bromocriptine reversed the negative impact of activated macrophages on human sperm motility. This suggests PRL modulates immune responses in early reproduction.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Reproductive Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Activated macrophages can negatively affect sperm function.
- The role of prolactin (PRL) in this interaction is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of prolactin suppression on macrophage activation and their impact on human sperm motility.
- To explore the potential role of PRL in modulating the immune response in reproduction.
Main Methods:
- Murine peritoneal macrophages were activated using bacillus of Calmette and Guerin (BCG) after prolactin suppression via bromocriptine treatment.
- Supernatants from activated macrophages were incubated with human sperm, and motility was analyzed.
- Experiments included bromocriptine treatment, PRL administration, and control groups.
Main Results:
- Activated macrophages significantly decreased human sperm motility.
- Bromocriptine-induced prolactin suppression reversed this inhibitory effect.
- Restoring prolactin levels re-established the suppressive effect of activated macrophages on sperm motility.
Conclusions:
- Prolactin plays a modulatory role in the detrimental effects of activated macrophages on human sperm motility.
- These findings suggest potential therapeutic strategies for modifying immune responses in early reproductive processes.
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