Washed human spermatozoa from 12 normozoospermic donors were treated with different concentrations of nicotine 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mm and were compared to spermatozoa suspended in nutrient medium only (control). Computer-aided sperm analysis was used to assess sperm kinematic properties after 30, 60, 120 and 180 min of incubation. Viability was assessed by means of a dye exclusion staining technique (eosin/nigrosin), while acrosome-reacted cells were identified under a fluorescent microscope using fluorescein isothiocyanate-Pisum sativum agglutinin as a probe. Nicotine significantly reduced total motility, progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, amplitude of lateral head displacement, beat cross-frequency, viability and caused spontaneous acrosome reaction at concentrations of ≥5.0 mm after 2 and 3 h of exposure. Nicotine concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mm had no significant effect (P < 0.05) on spermatozoa except that 1.0 mm significantly decreased (P < 0.05) sperm progressive motility at 2 and 3 h of incubation as well as viability after 3 h of incubation. This study concludes that the occurrence of high levels of nicotine in the body and seminal fluid might adversely affect fertilisation capacity of human spermatozoa through a mechanism that involves decreased motility, viability and premature induction of the acrosome reaction.

A B S T R A C TObjective: To investigate the effect of DIO on the kinematics and viability of spermatozoa in an albino rat model. Methods: Sperm suspensions from normal (Control) and diet-induced obese (DIO) Wistar rats were collected and incubated for various times (30, 60, 120 or 180 min at 37 C). Motility parameters were analyzed with computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), while viability was assessed by means of a dye exclusion staining technique (eosin/ nigrosin). Results: Results reveal that there was a significant time dependent decrease (P < 0.05) in progressive motility, curvilinear velocity and beat cross-frequency after 60 min, while amplitude of lateral head displacement and sperm viability was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) after 120 min in the DIO group compared to control spermatozoa. Conclusions: These results provided evidence that obesity is detrimental to sperm parameter in rats possibly through increased testicular temperature as a result of a rise in fat deposition.

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