Comparison of ultrastructural changes occured in spermatozoa after the application of pentoxifylline and platelet-activating factor

Abstract

Objectives: In this study we aimed to examine the effect of these alternative agents on sperm motility and fine morphology.
Patients and methods: The semen samples obtained from normozoospermic man (20 million/mL, motility 50% and above, n=20) were treated with pentoxifylline (PF) and platelet-activating factor (PAF). A control group was created with this samples and we also aimed to examine by considering sperm morphology without applying any PF and PAF.
Results: In the control group obtained from normozoospermic individuals no change was observed in the head of the spermatozoon nucleus, the plasma membrane and axoneme. Pentoxifylline treated spermatozoa were found to have deterioration in various places in the glycocalyx structure of the head. 9+2 axoneme located in the mid-section of the tail which plays an important role in motility was observed to have had no structural changes and the cristae in the mitochondria had disappeared. Structural distortions were observed in the plasma membrane of the elongated spermatozoa in the sperm head groups exposed to PAF.
Conclusion: As a result, the application of PF and PAF had a negative effect on the ultrastructure of the head and flagellum of the spermatozoa. We believe that PF and PAF used in ART might have an adverse effect on embryo development. Increasing research on PF and PAF can help enlightened the fine structure and comparison of sperm in this context.