[Progressive motility increase caused by L-arginine and polyamines in sperm from patients with idiopathic and diabetic asthenozoospermia].

This study was designed to investigate the in vitro effect of L-arginine and polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine on sperm motility of asthenozoospermic idiopathic and diabetic patients. 10 semen samples were obtained from healthy male volunteers. Other 10 samples were from men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia and 13 samples were from men with diabetes mellitus type 1. In vitro effect of L-arginine and polyamines on sperm motility type a was studied. In addition, concentration of L-arginine and polyamine levels was measured in seminal plasma. Addition of L-arginine or polyamines to sperm cells suspensions resulted in significant differences in motility type a. L-arginine concentrations in seminal plasma were similar in the three groups. Putrescine and spermidine levels in seminal plasma of diabetic patients were lower than those of healthy patients (p < or = 0.003 and p < or = 0.004, respectively). In asthenozoospermic patients, only spermidine was lower (p < or = 0.009). We can conclude that under the conditions of this study, the addition of L-arginine and polyamines to human sperm cells obtained from idiopathic or diabetic asthenozoospermic patients showed a beneficial effect on sperm motility.