Assessment of spermicidal activity of the antimicrobial peptide sarcotoxin Pd: A potent contraceptive agent

作者：Zare Zardini Hadi; Fesahat Farzaneh; Anbari Fatemeh; Halvaei Iman; Ebrahimi Leila

来源：European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 2016, 21(1): 15-21.

DOI：10.3109/13625187.2015.1052395

• Antimicrobial peptide
• Contraceptive
• Cytotoxicity
• Sexually transmitted infection
• Spermicidal
• Unplanned pregnancy

Objectives In searching for new spermicidal microbicides for use in the prevention of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) we investigated the spermicidal and cytotoxicity activities of the antimicrobial peptide sarcotoxin Pd.
Methods Washed sperm from 10 healthy, normal volunteers was treated with different concentrations of sarcotoxin Pd. Sperm motility and morphology were assessed at 0, 0.3, 5, 10 and 15 min. The cytotoxicity of sarcotoxin Pd in normal human cervical HeLa cells was measured. Percentage cell survival was expressed as the number of live cells in the test group.
Results The cytotoxic effect of sarcotoxin Pd was concentration-dependent. Significant cytotoxicity was observed at concentrations above 24 mu g/ml. Sarcotoxin Pd immobilised 100% of spermatozoa at a dose of 90 and 80 mu g/ml after 0.3 and 5 min, respectively, and immobilised 50% of spermatozoa after 15 min at lower doses. Sarcotoxin Pd inhibited sperm motility in a dose-dependent manner. The peptide immobilised sperm within 20 s at its maximal effective concentration of 90 mu g/ml.
Conclusions Sarcotoxin Pd appears to be a good candidate for a contraceptive agent in the prevention of unplanned pregnancy and STIs.

• 出版日期2016-1-2