Abstracts

Rationale: Several antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may affect sperm motility in vitro. We previously demonstrated the ability of CBZ, PHT, PRM and VPA to decrease sperm motility and reduce sperm ability to penetrate cervical mucus (a functional test not studied before in relation to AEDs) in concentrations much higher than those in clinical use. In the present study we investigated the effect of topiramate (TPM) on these parameters. Methods: TPM was dissolved in PBS. Normal semen from healthy human donors (sperm count>20 million/mL, >50% progressively motile) was incubated for 2hr with several dilutions of TPM. Parameters analyzed included sperm motility (%motile cells), EC50, motility quality grade, and ability of spermatozoa to penetrate into bovine cervical mucus after 10min contact (depth of penetration). Statistical analysis employed ANOVA with post-hoc t-test comparisons. Results: After 2 hours of incubation, sperm motility, motility quality grade and cervical mucus penetration all significantly correlated with TPM dose (p<0.001). On post-hoc analysis, TPM significantly (p<0.05) decreased sperm motility at concentrations ≥2500 mg/L, with EC50 not reached with concentrations up to 20,000 mg/L. Motility quality grade was significantly decreased at concentrations ≥2500 mg/L. Cervical mucus penetration was significantly inhibited at concentrations ≥1250 mg/L.