Effects of seminal plasma from cigarette smokers on sperm viability and longevity.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of cigarette smoking on the ability of seminal plasma (SP) to maintain sperm viability.

Design: Clinical randomized study. Spermatozoa from cigarette smoking or nonsmoking subjects were reconstituted in SP from smokers and nonsmokers and in modified Ham's F-10 medium, followed by sperm quality assessment during a 48-hour incubation period.

Setting: Andrology Institute of Lexington, Lexington, Kentucky.

Patient(s): Twenty men who had been smoking cigarettes for longer than 3 years (30 cigarettes per day or more) and 20 nonsmokers participated in this study.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Improvement in sperm viability by removal of SP--and associated detrimental factors present in the SP--from smoker subjects.

Result(s): The results obtained indicate that the quality of spermatozoa obtained from nonsmokers was superior to that of smokers. The SP from the two patient groups had a definite effect on their respective sperm quality, i.e., beneficial effects for the nonsmokers, detrimental effects for the smokers. Exposure of spermatozoa from the nonsmokers to SP from the smokers resulted in a significant reduction in sperm viability. However, exposure of spermatozoa from the smokers to SP from the nonsmokers or to Ham's F-10 medium yielded significant improvements in sperm viability.

Conclusion(s): The detrimental effects of smokers' SP on nonsmokers' spermatozoa was prominent and a rather unique phenomenon. The results generated in this study could be of clinical significance since removal of smokers' SP and subsequent reconstitution and incubation in physiological media seems to enhance the viability, longevity, and possibly the fertilizing ability of these spermatozoa for use in various assisted reproductive technologies.