Effects of some non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on rat sperm hyperactivation in vitro

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of 3 primarily COX-1 inhibiting non-steroidal anti­ inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen or indomethacin) on rat sperm hyperactivation in vitro. Rat cauda epididymal sperm were continuously incubated with different concentrations of drugs (aspirin: 0.87,1.7 or3.4 mmol; ibuprofen; 0.75,1.5 or 3.0 mmol; and indomethacin; 0.43, 0.87, or 1.7 mmol) in a modified B W W medium at 37°C for 4 h. At the end of 4 h, the number of sperms exhibiting hyperactivated motility (characterized by vigorus tail movements, marked lateral excursion of head and following a nonlinear swimming trajectory such as figure eight or circling) and total immobility were counted and expressed as a %. The results showed that all the 3 drugs significantly (p<0.05-0.01) inhibited hyperactivated sperm motility in a doserelated fashion. Further, all three concentrations of ibuprofen and indomethacin, and the high concentration of aspirin caused an elevation in the number of immotile sperm. It is concluded that moderate concentrations of COX-1 inhibiting non­ steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can impair rat hyperactivated sperm motility in vitro.