[Nifedipine modifies plasma membrane functional integrity and inhibits osmosensitive calcium influx in human sperm].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of nifedipine of therapeutic dosage on the plasma membrane functional integrity and osmosensitive calcium influx in human sperm in vitro. METHODS: Sperm samples were aseptically obtained from 10 healthy fertile men by masturbation and prepared by swim-up technique to produce a spermatozoal solution of high motility. The solution was then incubated with nifedipine of 20, 100 and 20 x 10(3) ng/ml respectively at 37 degrees C in vitro. The hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test was done to assess the sperm function. Intracellular calcium concentration was measured by fluorescent probe fura-2/AM before and after sperm medium dilution in distilled water. RESULTS: The 20 x 103 ng/ml group showed significantly lower HOS scores than the control (P < 0.01). The 20, 100 and 20 x 10(3) ng/ml groups all showed significantly lower Ca2+ fluorescence D-value than the control (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Nifedipine can modify plasma membrane functional integrity and inhibit osmosensitive calcium influx in human sperm and affect male fertility in vitro in therapeutic dose.