Defective Function of Membrane Potential (Ψ) on Sperm of Infertile Men

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Abstract
Membrane potential across the plasma membrane (Ψ) of human sperm was determined by measuring the accumulation of triphenylmethylphosphonium (TPMP+). Washed sperm of fertile or infertile men were suspended, incubated in low-K+and high-Na+or high-K+and low-Na+medium, and allowed to take up the cation TPMP+to a steady state (20 min at 37°C). Under these conditions a Ψ of −75 ± 6 mV was observed in sperm cells of fertile men, while in spermatozoa of idiopathic and astheno-zoospermic infertile men, the Ψ was of 35 ± 5 mV and 32 ± 5 mV, respectively. Upon depolarization of the sperm membrane by K+, the transport system Na+-K+in spermatozoa of idiopathic infertile men decreased 53 ± 3.5%, while that in sperm cells of asthenozoospermic men decreased 57 ± 3% with respect to spermatozoa of fertile men. The results of these studies indicate their possible application to the diagnosis of male infertility.