Objective
Human sperm motility and hyperactivation (HA) are induced by different
factors such as intracellular calcium concentration. Repaglinide is an
antidiabetic drug that, via the blocking of ATP-sensitive potassium channels
(K-ATP channels), depolarization of the β-cell membrane, and opening
of the voltage-gated calcium channels leads to an increase in intracellular
calcium. The present study aimed to examine the effects of repaglinide on in
vitro sperm motility parameters, viability, and DNA integrity in
normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men.
Methods
Semen samples were collected from two groups of normozoospermic donors and
asthenozoospermic patients. The samples were washed free of seminal plasma
and then treated with medium alone (control) or with 100 nM and 1µM
concentrations of repaglinide. After 1 h of incubation, percent sperm
motility and hyperactivation were assessed; after 2 h of incubation, sperm
viability and DNA fragmentation rate were evaluated by the Eosin-Y and
acridine orange staining, respectively.
Results
In both groups, repaglinide at a concentration of 100 nM and 1µM
significantly improved percent sperm motility, hyperactivation, and vital
sperms with normal DNA; in specimens from normozoospermic men, the
1µM concentration had a noticeable effect on progressive motility; in
samples from asthenozoospermic men, the highest hyperactivation rate was
seen at a concentration of 100 nM as compared with the 1µM
concentration and controls (
p
<0.05).
Conclusions
Our results suggest that repaglinide can improve sperm motility,
hyperactivity, viability, and DNA integrity in both normozoospermic and
asthenozoospermic men.