Functional Activity of Mouse Sperm Was Not Affected by Low Doses of Aspirin-Like Drugs

Abstract

To investigate some possible effects of low doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs upon functional activity of mouse sperm, the authors injected lysine acetyl salicylate (im 14.3 mg/kg day(-1), ibuprofen (ip 5.6 mg/kg day(-1)), or piroxicam (ip 0.28 mg/kg day(-1) to pregnant females (the male cohort was sacrificed at adulthood) (A) or to adult males during 35 (B) or 60 (C) days. Parameters measured were motility, viability, acrosomal integrity, responses to hypoosmotic shock, in vitro fertilization index, and testosterone plasma levels. Salicylate evoked a slight reduction in the percentage of swollen gametes in A, and ibuprofen diminished testosterone plasma levels in B. The other parameters remained unchanged in all groups. Results are well supported by the low doses assayed, which are equivalent to the content of one tablet commercially available for each compound.

Intergenerational effects on mouse sperm quality after in utero exposure to acetaminophen and ibuprofen

“…Similar effects on gonad development and reproductive health of F0 adult female rodents have been described after exposure to high doses of APAP or indomethacin (26,27). However, fertility of adult male rats (26) and sperm parameters in mice (25) were not altered by exposure in utero to these drugs.…”

“…Moreover, in adult rats, long-term treatment with APAP at high doses impairs sexual competence, sperm count and quality, and fertility (24). Conversely, adult mouse sperm parameters are not affected after in utero exposure to low doses of ASA or IBU (25). Similarly, in vivo administration of APAP or indomethacin to pregnant rats during embryogenesis decreases the number of fetal germ cells and accelerates their embryonic differentiation but does not affect the fertility of adult male rats (26).…”

Aspirin decreases human sperm motility and vitality, chelates seminal calcium, but insignificantly reduces seminal nitric oxide production

“…Though, in contrast, only one animal study conducted on rams showed improvement in sperm motility after aspirin supplementation at 75 mg/kg, for 4 days, however, in this study other sperm markers such as count and volume were negatively affected (Tanyildizi & Bozkurt, 2003). Alternatively, there was a blunted effect on sperm motility and viability after administration of aspirin at 14.3 mg kg −1 day −1 , for 35 and 60 days, in adult mouse males (Stutz et al, 2000).…”

Ibuprofen results in alterations of human fetal testis development

“…The present study represents the first GC/MS-MS global analysis of fetal testicular steroidogenesis demonstrating that, in addition to suppression of testosterone, the effect of ibuprofen on the expression of CYP17A1 also negatively impacted androstenedione and to a greater extent 5α-DHT. Further supporting evidence for ibuprofen being an anti-androgenic compound is the observation that low doses of this NSAID (5–6 mg/kg/day for 35 days) inhibited plasma levels of testosterone in adult male mice59. Ibuprofen has also been shown to inhibit the human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases UGT2B15 and UGT2B17, and the latter is very important for glucuronidation and testosterone excretion60.…”