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The effects of melatonin on sperm motility in vitro in Wistar rats
Author(s) -
Gwayi N.,
Bernard R. T. F.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0272.2002.00522.x
Subject(s) - motility , melatonin , sperm motility , sperm , andrology , in vitro , sperm quality , incubation , biology , chemistry , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
Summary. The effects of physiological concentrations of melatonin on motility of spermatozoa from Wistar rats were assessed in vitro . Melatonin had dose‐dependent negative effects on sperm forward progression, the quality of sperm motility and on a sperm motility index. Some, but not all of these effects were due to ethanol (0.5% final concentration) which was used as a solvent for melatonin. Addition of ethanol to the incubation medium altered the pH, and increased pH had a significant negative effect on all aspects of sperm motility. Finally, the overlay of oil, which is a routine part of many sperm culture systems, had an ameliorating effect that was probably because of the lipophilic nature of melatonin.