Mitochondrial respiration inhibitors and human sperm motility: implication in the development of spermicides
Hong, C.Y.; Chiang, B.N.; Wei, Y.H.
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 16(5): 487-490
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0306-5251 PMID: 6639834 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1983.tb02204.xDocument Number: 400346
Three inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, rotenone, antimycin A, KCN and the uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, 2-4-dinitrophenol, were tested for their sperm immobilizing effects with a trans-membrane migration method. One of these drugs inhibited human sperm motility at the concentrations of 10-6, 10-5 10-4 and 10-3 M. The suggestion to develop spermicidal contraceptives from mitochondrial respiration inhibitors could not be substantiated; and the theory that motility inhibiting drugs act primarily on the sperm membrane was reconfirmed.