Effect of Co-Administration of Pentoxifylline and Zinc on Total Antioxidant Capacity and Malondialdehyde Levels in Seminal Plasma in Idiopathic Male Infertility

Background: Pentoxifylline is a methyl xanthine derivative that influences the sperm motion characteristics. It is commonly used in treatment of male-factor infertility, including astheno-zoospermia and Zinc is known to influence several phases of sperm life, from germ cell development to spermiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate any possible effect of a combi-nation of zinc and Pentoxifylline on sperm characteristics and Total Antioxidant Capacity and Malondialdehyde Levels in Seminal Plasma in a group of patients with asthenozoospermia. Materials and Methods: Ninety men with asthenozoospermia in a doubleblind, randomized clinical trial were allocated for this study. They randomized to tree groups. Group I received Pentoxifylline / and zinc, group II, Pentoxifylline, group III, zinc . pentoxifylline and zinc twice daily for duration of 3 months was administered to each patient according to group-ing . Finally, we compared pre and post intervention semen pa-rameters of sperm, Levels Seminal Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and Malondialdehyde levels (MDA) in all the specimen by FRAP(ferric-reducing ability of plasma assay) and TBA (Tiobarbiotic acid) methods, respectively. Data was analyzed statistically using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test .Results: Pentoxifylline and zinc increased significantly the mean sperm motility, count and normal morphology in the Pen-toxifylline and zinc treated groups when compared to pre-ad-ministration. The mentioned parameters increased significantly in the Pentoxifylline + Zinc group in comparison with Pentoxi-fylline and Zinc groups. Based on the results, mean concentra-tion (± S.D) of TAC in the seminal plasma was significantly increased in the groups of pentoxifylline, zinc, and pentoxifyl-line + zinc compared to pre-administration.Moreover, MDA levels in seminal plasma of patients with asthenozoospermia decreased significantly compared to before administration in the groups of pentoxifylline, zinc, and pentoxifylline + zinc. also, TAC level in zinc+ pentoxifylline group was significantly higher than zinc and pentoxifylline groups. In the event that,MDA was significantly reduced in the pentoxifylline + zinc group compared with the groups of pentoxifylline and zinc. Conclusion: It is suggested that pentoxifylline be co-adminis-tered with antioxidants such as zinc, for the treatment of male infertility.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pentoxifylline ، Zinc ، Asthenozoospermia