Assessment of spermicides by a stripping technique against human spermatozoa

Abstract

Fifty-two (52) compounds were tested for spermicidal activity by titration against human spermatozoa. The gradual decrease in mean sperm size was measured against increasing concentration of spermicide and the end-point was taken as the point at which all the peripheral cytoplasm had been removed and only the sperm core of nucleus and tail fibres remained. There were 14 compounds that produced this total effect. All were detergents, of various types, and the effect was purely physical. The most potent compounds caused complete stripping at 0.5-50 pmol/cell and most are already used in spermicidal preparations. A further 11 compounds, including sodium hypochlorite and some phenols, caused partial stripping, while 4 compounds caused sperm swelling. The test was not suitable for assessment of metabolic cell poisons.

Prevention of hypo‐osmotic swelling by detergents provides clues to the membrane structure of rat sperm

“…The majority of drugs tested in this study, interacted with the sperm cell membrane over a narrow concentration range until a dose was reached which destroyed the semi-permeability of the membrane. These concentrations were in broad agreement with their effectiveness against human sperm where lysis was judged by reduction of sperm size (Brotherton 1977). Cationic alkyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) was the most potent agent.…”

Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of 4‐hexylresorcinol (E 586) as a food additive

“…4-HR has been found to be a spermicidal agent by local application and has been used in contraceptive preparations, although it does not strip human spermatozoa completely (Brotherton, 1977). 4-HR has been found to be a spermicidal agent by local application and has been used in contraceptive preparations, although it does not strip human spermatozoa completely (Brotherton, 1977).…”

“…Studies on reproductive and developmental toxicity were not available. 4-HR has been found to be a spermicidal agent by local application and has been used in contraceptive preparations, although it does not strip human spermatozoa completely (Brotherton, 1977).…”

Μελετη Της Ενζυματικης Δραστηριοτητας Της Γαλακτικης Αφυδρογονασης (Ldh) Στο Σπερματικο Πλασμα Αμνων Και Κριαριων

“…Ενα απ' αυτά, το κατιόν απορρυπαντικό cetyltrimethylammonium bromide [CTAB, cetrimide C-ig H33 (CH)3 NBr] σε συγκέντρωση 0,3 -0,5 Μ μειώνει την κινητικότητα των σπερματοζωαρίων και τη φρουκτόλυση κατά 50% περίπου, και αναστέλλει και τις δύο δραστηριότητες σε συγκέντρωση 1mM. Αλλα ισχυρά σπερματοκτόνα είναι το sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS), το Triton Χ-100 (diisobutylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol), καθώς και άλλες ουσίες (Brotherton, 1977). Τέλος, ορισμένα απορρυπαντικά ακινητοποιούν τα σπερματοζωάρια αμέσως, ενώ άλλα ολοκληρώνουν την επίδραση τους μετά από μια περίοδο επαφής τους με τα σπερματοζωάρια.…”