Nerve growth factor improves sperm motility and vitality

Objective Sperm motility can be affected by various factors.This study was to observe the effect of the nerve growth factor(NGF) on sperm motility in rats,analyze its mechanisms and find out more methods for the treatment of astenospermia.Methods Human sperm were exposed to the solution of NGF powder at the concentrations of 0,10,50 and 100 μg/L for 30,60 and 90 min,followed by detection of the changes in sperm motility and vitality.SD rats were intramuscularly injected with 100 μl NGF(0.1 μg) per day for 14 days,and then observed for the number and motility of sperm in the cauda epididymidis.Results After treated with NGF for 60 min,sperm motility was significantly higher in the 50 μg/L than in the 0 and 100 μg/L groups(P0.05),but no statistically significant differences were observed in sperm vitality among different concentrations at different times(P0.05).After NGF injection,both the number and motility of sperm in the cauda epididymidis were significantly increased in the experimental rats as compared with the controls(P0.05).Conclusion NGF can improve spermatogenesis and sperm motility,and therefore provide some new ideas for the treatment of male sterility.