Residual sperm function in oligozoospermia induced by testosterone enanthate administered as a potential steroid male contraceptive.

Abstract

To investigate the fertility of men who remain oligozoospermic despite sex steroid suppression, the in-vitro fertilizing capacity of residual spermatozoa was assessed in 30 men receiving intramuscular testosterone enanthate (TE). Spermatozoa were prepared by either Percoll or repetitive centrifugation/washing. Although the mean (+/- SEM) pretreatment zona-free hamster oocyte penetration (HOP) rates were similar (59.4 +/- 10.1 and 63.8 +/- 10.8%), following the induction of oligozoospermia the Percoll-prepared spermatozoa exhibited a penetration rate (26.9 +/- 10.2%) which was markedly greater than that obtained for sperm prepared by repetitive washing (0 +/- 0%). In addition, the partners of two men exhibiting a HOP test with Percoll-prepared spermatozoa, conceived despite a sperm concentration of 3 x 10(6) ml-1 and a negative HOP test with spermatozoa prepared by repetitive washing. These results suggest that Percoll preparation optimizes the assessment of in-vitro sperm function and that the fertility of men with TE-induced severe oligozoospermia is suppressed but not abolished.

• Authors: E M Wallace, R J Aitken, F C Wu
• Journal: International journal of andrology (Int J Androl) Vol. 15 Issue 5 Pg. 416-24 (Oct 1992) ISSN: 0105-6263 [Print] England
• PMID: 1428200 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Contraceptive Agents, Male
• Testosterone
• testosterone enanthate

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Contraceptive Agents, Male (pharmacology)
• Cricetinae
• Female
• Fertility (drug effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Sperm-Ovum Interactions
• Spermatozoa (drug effects, physiology)
• Testosterone (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)