In vitro effects of myo-inositol on normokinetic human semen samples with nonlinear motility

F. Pallotti, F. Cargnelutti, G. Senofonte, T. Carlini, F. Faja, D. Paoli, F. Lombardo

Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Seminology – Sperm Bank “Loredana Gandini”, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy. donatella.paoli@uniroma1.it

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: As myo-inositol (MI) deficiency has been associated with impaired sperm quality, we aimed to assess its effects on sperm kinetics objectively, using a computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) system.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 59 normokinetic semen samples with nonlinear progressive motility before and after incubation with a solution of MI. The samples were collected from healthy subjects aged 20-40 years who were attending our Laboratory of Seminology for fertility screening.

RESULTS: We found a significant increase in linear progressive motility (28.2% ± 10.8 vs. 30.9% ± 11.0, T0 vs. T1 respectively; p <0.001) and a significant reduction in nonlinear progressive motility (21.0% ± 9.9 vs. 18.1% ± 10.2, T0 vs. T1 respectively; p <0.001) after incubation with MI. CASA analysis revealed a significant increase in curvilinear velocity (VCL) (65.0 ± 19.0 vs. 67.9 ± 20.4 µm/s, T0 vs. T1 respectively; p = 0.049). Overall, there was an increase in VCL in 42/59 samples (about 70%), mainly from non-smokers.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that MI has a positive in vitro effect on semen samples, but confirmation is needed through further studies taking into account factors capable of modulating MI response, such as smoking and obesity.

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