Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effects of two virucidal compounds, MAP30 (Momordica anti-human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] protein; molecular weight, 30 kd) and GAP31 (Gelonium anti-HIV protein; molecular weight, 31 kd), obtained from Momordica charantia and Gelonium multiflorum, respectively, on the motility and vitality of human spermatocytes.

DESIGN:

Prospective, controlled study.

SETTING:

New York University School of Medicine.

PATIENT(S):

Ten healthy men undergoing evaluation for infertility provided 10 semen specimens.

INTERVENTION(S):

Human sperm were treated with the anti-HIV agents, MAP30 and GAP3 1. Nonoxynol-9, a commonly used spermicide, and phosphate-buffered saline were used as the positive and negative controls, respectively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):

The motility and vitality of human spermatocytes treated with MAP30 and GAP31 at doses that inhibit HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus.

RESULT(S):

MAP30 and GAP31 did not inhibit the motility or vitality of human sperm cells over a dose range of 100-0.1 microg/mL, whereas nonoxynol-9 demonstrated spermicidal action on all 10 samples over the same dose range.

CONCLUSION(S):

The antiviral agents, MAP30 and GAP31, were not toxic to human sperm cells at the doses at which they inhibit HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus. They had no effect on the motility of spermatozoa, even at a dose of 1,000 times the maximum effective concentration. These results indicate that MAP30 and GAP31 may be useful as nonspermicidal protection against sexually transmitted diseases.