OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate at which mild acidity immobilizes and kills human sperm and to evaluate an acidic microbicide, BufferGel, for sperm immobilization. DESIGN: Controlled in vitro study. SETTING: An academic research university and hospital andrology lab. PATIENT(S): Eight volunteer male sperm donors. INTERVENTION(S): Semen samples were treated with hydrochloric acid (HCl) or BufferGel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm motility was measured by using a computerized automated semen analyzer and video microscopy. Sperm membrane permeability and intracellular pH were measured by using fluorescent techniques. RESULT(S): In semen acidified with HCl to pH 4.0, sperm were rapidly immobilized (within 1 min) and were irreversibly immobilized (killed) within 10 minutes. The speed of immobilization and of killing were both linearly proportional to hydrogen ion activity over a pH range of 7.5-4.0. Across the same range, the intracellular pH of human sperm equilibrated to within 0.5 pH units of extracellular pH within 1-2 minutes. BufferGel immobilized sperm significantly faster than HCl from pH 4.0-6.0. CONCLUSION(S): Exposure to mild acidity rapidly acidifies the intracellular pH of human sperm and is rapidly spermicidal. BufferGel accelerates acid immobilization of sperm.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate at which mild acidity immobilizes and kills human sperm and to evaluate an acidic microbicide, BufferGel, for sperm immobilization. DESIGN: Controlled in vitro study. SETTING: An academic research university and hospital andrology lab. PATIENT(S): Eight volunteer male sperm donors. INTERVENTION(S): Semen samples were treated with hydrochloric acid (HCl) or BufferGel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm motility was measured by using a computerized automated semen analyzer and video microscopy. Sperm membrane permeability and intracellular pH were measured by using fluorescent techniques. RESULT(S): In semen acidified with HCl to pH 4.0, sperm were rapidly immobilized (within 1 min) and were irreversibly immobilized (killed) within 10 minutes. The speed of immobilization and of killing were both linearly proportional to hydrogen ion activity over a pH range of 7.5-4.0. Across the same range, the intracellular pH of human sperm equilibrated to within 0.5 pH units of extracellular pH within 1-2 minutes. BufferGel immobilized sperm significantly faster than HCl from pH 4.0-6.0. CONCLUSION(S): Exposure to mild acidity rapidly acidifies the intracellular pH of human sperm and is rapidly spermicidal. BufferGel accelerates acid immobilization of sperm.
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