EFFECTS OF TWO CHELATING AGENTS, OXINE AND DIETHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE (ANTABUSE), ON STAINABILITY AND MOTILITY OF HUMAN SPERMS

Abstract

Two different staining methods (the sulfide silver method of Timm and a fluorescence method using 2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline) revealed a similar distribution of heavy metals in human spermatozoa. Both methods were modified for the staining of spermatozoa. Diethyldithiocarbamate, a compound thought to be the active metabolite of disulfiram (an antialcoholic drug, Antabuse) prevented subsequent staining by these two methods. Low concentrations (1:10,000) of diethyldithiocarbamate in vitro immobilized spermatozoa within 2-4 hr but subsequent intravital staining with eosin indicated that more than 90% of the immobilized spermatozoa were still alive.