Abstract:
Pentoxifylline (PF) is a xanthine derivative drug primarily used to treat peripheral vascular
disorders. It is currently used in assisted reproductive technologies to enhance human
sperm motility. However, the mechanism by which this enhancement occurs is not fully
understood. Given that nitric oxide has been identified as a trigger to sperm motion, we
asked whether nitric oxide modulates the stimulatory effect of PF on sperm motility. A total of
41 semen samples from infertile males were studied. Nitric oxide production in the presence
of 5 mm PF was tested using different bio?analytical methods (spectrophotometry,
fluorometry and fluorescence microscopy). The spectrophotometric determination showed
higher levels of nitrite, an indirect measure for nitric oxide, in sperm samples supplemented
with PF compared to controls. The fluorometric experiment showed higher 4, 5 ?