Effect of Phoenix dactylifera Pollen on In Vitro Sperm Activation of Infertile Men

Abstract

The objective of this study is to improve sperm motility in vitro of infertile men by using Phoenix dactylifera Pollen extract ( P. dactylifera pollen (as motility stimulant substances that can improve assisted reproductive technologies (such as artificial insemination) in future. Semen was collected from 25 infertile men who involved in this current study. Each semen sample was divided into two portions. One part was considered as a control and in vitro activated by using culture medium only. The other portion was considered as treated portion and in vitro activated by adding P. dactylifera pollen extract (0.5mg) to the culture media. Certain sperm function parameters were examined before and following in vitro activation using simple layer technique. The results revealed highly significant increment (P<0.01) in the percentage of total sperm motility grades (A+B+C) and progressive sperm motility grade (A) with a significant improvement (P<0.05) in the percentage of progressive sperm motility grade (B) when using P. dactylifera pollen medium in comparison with control medium after 10 and 30 minutes incubation . It is concluded from the results of the present study that adding the 20% P. dactylifera pollen extract to the culture medium of the in vitro sperm activation leads to an improvement in the sperm motility.