Correlation between semen adenosine triphosphate and sperm fertilizing capacity.

The concentration of ATP was determined in a large number of semen samples from fertile men and infertility clinic patients. Results were correlated with routine semen characteristics, in vitro sperm fertilizing capacity, and functional integrity of the sperm membrane. The results confirm the findings of Comhaire et al. and Irvine and Aitken that there are positive correlations between semen ATP concentration and sperm count and sperm motility. In routine laboratory examination of semen specimen, the results agree with those of Irvine and Aitken that semen ATP determination does not appear to be useful as a biochemical marker for sperm fertilizing capacity, as assessed by the in vitro zona-free HEPA.