OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of acute in vivo sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA) and in vitro 8-Bromo-cGMP treatments on semen parameters and sperm function. DESIGN: Prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, two-period clinical investigation. SETTING:Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Twenty male volunteers with normal erectile function and normal electrocardiogram were recruited. INTERVENTION(S): In vivo: 50 mg of sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA) or placebo was administered p.o., and semen samples were collected 1 hour after administration of the test drug. In vitro: 8-Bromo-cGMP (20 microM; 60 minutes) was added to semen samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Macroscopic and microscopic seminal parameters were measured and motility studies performed. Various acrosome reaction studies and sperm-zona pellucida binding studies were also done. RESULT(S): Either sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA) or 8-Bromo-cGMP treatments had no effect on both macroscopic and microscopic seminal parameters as well as the acrosome reaction. Sperm-zona pellucida binding results were however increased to 148.75% and 134%, respectively, by these treatments. Various kinematical parameters increased after treatment with the most significant increase detected in the population of rapid cells. CONCLUSION(S): VIAGRA can be used successfully to enhance sperm motility and binding to the oocyte especially during fertility treatments.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of acute in vivo sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA) and in vitro 8-Bromo-cGMP treatments on semen parameters and sperm function. DESIGN: Prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, two-period clinical investigation. SETTING: Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Twenty male volunteers with normal erectile function and normal electrocardiogram were recruited. INTERVENTION(S): In vivo: 50 mg of sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA) or placebo was administered p.o., and semen samples were collected 1 hour after administration of the test drug. In vitro: 8-Bromo-cGMP (20 microM; 60 minutes) was added to semen samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Macroscopic and microscopic seminal parameters were measured and motility studies performed. Various acrosome reaction studies and sperm-zona pellucida binding studies were also done. RESULT(S): Either sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA) or 8-Bromo-cGMP treatments had no effect on both macroscopic and microscopic seminal parameters as well as the acrosome reaction. Sperm-zona pellucida binding results were however increased to 148.75% and 134%, respectively, by these treatments. Various kinematical parameters increased after treatment with the most significant increase detected in the population of rapid cells. CONCLUSION(S): VIAGRA can be used successfully to enhance sperm motility and binding to the oocyte especially during fertility treatments.
Authors: Paolo Capogrosso; Christian Fuglesang S Jensen; Giulia Rastrelli; Josep Torremade; Giorgio I Russo; Amr Abdel Raheem; Anders Frey; Mikkel Fode; Mario Maggi; Yacov Reisman; Carlo Bettocchi; Giovanni Corona Journal: Sex Med Date: 2021-06-02 Impact factor: 2.491