Evaluation of antifertility effect of gel formulation containing sperm immobilizing factor: In vitro and in vivo studies.

Sexually active women often seek protection against unplanned pregnancies. Latter can be effectively controlled by consistent use of spermicides during each coital act. However, side effects associated with the use of available synthetic spermicidal agents have directed the interest towards identifying newer and safer agents. Present studies were undertaken to formulate a vaginal contraceptive gel, containing sperm immobilizing factor (SIF) isolated from Staphylococcus aureus using 1% w/v Carbopol. SIF loaded gel formulation was characterized for various in vitro parameters i.e. pH, spreadability, texture profiling, rheological properties, and in vitro release studies. The prepared formulation was found to possess significant spreading properties, gel firmness and strength, and released about 80% of SIF within 30min. Latter can completely immobilize human spermatozoa within 20s, at a dose of 200µg/ml. SIF in the proposed gel formulation showed 100% contraceptive effect when used at amount as low as of 10µg, thus confirming the possibility to develop it as a potent vaginal contraceptive for future use.

Immobilization effect of Ruta graveolens L. on human sperm: a new hope for male contraception.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Contraceptive plants which were introduced by folk in traditional remedies are investigated worldwide. In this study, the contraceptive effects of Ruta graveolens L., which has been mentioned for male contraceptive in Iranian traditional folk medicine, was experimented on human sperm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different doses of lyophilized aqueous extract of Ruta graveolens L. were added to an amount of fresh semen, containing 10(6) cells in a 1:1 volumic ratio. Motility and viability of cells, DNA status, mitochondrial activity and sperm revival tests were carried out. RESULTS: The sperm immobilization effects of the extract appeared immediately in a does-dependent manner and 100% of the sperms became immotile at a concentration of 100mg/ml but other parameters were intact. After washing the sperms, motility was returned in 30.8+/-3.2% of the sperms, besides coiled tails in 38.6+/-5.5% of the treated cells, in comparison to 12.5+/-2.0% of the control group (p=0.001). The part of the extract, responsible for immobilization of the sperms was stable upon boiling. CONCLUSIONS: As the cells were alive and immotile, probably some ionic currents are blocked by a thermostable component of the plant which can be promising as a new male channel blocker contraceptive.

Sperm immobilizing properties of lemon juice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sperm-immobilizing properties of lemon juice to determine if they are consistent with its traditional contraceptive use. It was found that lemon juice supernatant (LJS) has high osmolality (550-60 mOsm) and low pH (2.2-2.6) and that addition of LJS to semen to give a final concentration of 20% v/v reduced the pH from around 8.4 to 4.1. This acidification was associated with irreversible cessation of all sperm movements within 1 minute. In conclusion, lemon juice should be further evaluated for acceptability, safety, and efficacy as a topical vaginal contraceptive agent.

The effect of oleanolic acid on sperm motion characteristics and fertility of male Wistar rats.

The study was designed to examine the effect of oleanolic acid on cauda epididymal sperm motion using a computer-aided sperm analysis system and to elucidate the relationship between sperm motion and fertility, as a tool for contraceptive studies. Oleanolic acid-polyvinylpyrrollidone suspension was orally administered to adult male Wistar rats for 30 days, followed by a 14-day drug withdrawal from half of the rats in the group. Control rats received only polyvinylpyrrollidone. All males were mated with untreated females. Treated males failed to impregnate females, whereas control and oleanolic acid withdrawn males achieved 100% pregnancies. Sperm motion analysed on the Sperm Motility Quantifier (SMQ) showed significant differences in linearity (P < 0.001) and wobble (P < 0.01) between control and treated groups. However, the curvilinear velocities were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among all the groups. Sperm motility patterns verified differences among kinematic parameters.

Quantitative evaluation of the spermicidal potencies of vaginal contraceptives with a transmembrane migration method.

The spermicidal potencies of four vaginal contraceptives, namely Delfen cream, Samtol tablet, Lorophyn suppository and Ortho-Gynol jelly were compared using a transmembrane migration method which measured the proportion of sperm that moved from a semen-drug mixture across a Nuclepore membrane with 5 micron pores into phosphate buffer. The concentration-response curves of all preparations were parallel. The maximal dilutions that decreased sperm motility to 50% of control for Delfen, Samtol, Lorophyn and Ortho-Gynol were 240, 160, 75 and 35 respectively. The trans-membrane migration method is a simple, reproducible and quantitative test for evaluating the spermicidal potencies of vaginal contraceptives.

[Forensic and surgical guidelines for male sterilization (author's transl)]. / Forensische und operationstechnische Richtlinien bei der Sterilisation des Mannes.

The moral justification for substitutive sterilization presupposes a critical verification of the sterilization wishes and an exact explanation to both partners. With the acquisition of the proper consent, the explanation of the absolute necessity of the postoperative spermiogram check-up cannot be neglected. Comparison of the spermiograms of unalterably vasectomized men with findings from additional rinsings with physiological saline solution and nitrofurantoin showed that the instillation of the vas deferens leads to a swift, mechanically dependent, emptying of the distal sperm depot. Through instillation of the spermicidal substance nitrofurantoin and the resulting spermatozoa immobilization, this effect can be considerably increased.