Comparison between Sperm treated with Pentoxifylline and 2-Deoxyadenosine using Hypo-Osmotic Swelling Test
Pitak Laokirkkiat MD*, Somboon Kunathikom MD*, Roungsin Choavaratana MD*, Somsin Petyim MD*, Japarath Prechapanich MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
Objective : To compare the percentage of sperm tail membrane swelling under hypo-osmotic conditions be-
tween sperm treated with pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine
Design : Experimental in vitro study
Materials and Methods : Thirty normal semen samples from male partners of infertile couples were collected.
After sperm preparation by two-layer Percoll gradient method, each sperm sample was divided into three
specimens. Pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine were separately added into two specimens, while the third
specimen was used as a control. Hypo-osmotic swelling test was performed in all specimens. Percentage of
swollen spermatozoa in each specimen was evaluated.
Results : The mean percentage of swollen spermatozoa in the semen samples supplemented with pentoxifylline
and 2-deoxyadenosine were both significantly higher than those in the control (82.8 + 7.7 and 83.0 + 9.5 vs
70.8 + 12.7; p < 0.001). There was no significant differences of swollen spermatozoa between pentoxifylline
and 2-deoxyadenosine (p = 0.898).
Conclusion : Addition of pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine to the sperm prepared by the two-layer Percoll
gradient method can almost equally enhance the sperm membrane integrity. Therefore, it may be beneficial to
add these compounds to sperm preparation for use in assisted reproduction.
Keywords : Pentoxifylline, 2-Deoxyadenosine, Hypo-osmotic swelling test, Percoll gradient
