Provocation Testing of Human Sperm Motility Using Energy Substrates and Activators of the Cyclic Nucleotide System: II. Studies on Sperm from Asthenozoospermic Subjects

Objective: To find differences in effect on sperm motility of agents that increase intracellular cAMP: manganese ion, methyl-isobutyl-xanthine (MIX), 2-deoxyadenosine, glucose, and Mn-MIX and Mn-glucose.

Design: Nine men with asthenozoospermia vs. fertile donors.

Methods: Sperm was washed in Hepes-buffered saline, motility tested by laser-Doppler technique.

Results: Best activation was obtained with Mn and 2-deoxyadenosine; generally poor response to MIX or glucose.

Conclusions: Usually, poor endogenous stimulation of adenylyl cyclase, and probably not limited energy supply, is the cause of impaired motility.