Joint study by IIT-H to enhance sperm competence for IVF

A group of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H), Mangalore University, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education, has designed a small organic molecule mPTX which improves the sperm functional competence required for in vitro fertilization (IVF). The studies have demonstrated that mPTX, a pentoxifylline derivative, was able to increase sperm motility, prolong in vitro sperm survival, improve sperm fertilisation potential, without adversely affecting the development of the embryos at a much lower concentration compared to the widely used pharmacological agent pentoxifylline in IVF technology. mPTX can be a potential drug candidate for aiding viable sperm selection in patients having immotile or poor motile spermatozoa in the ejaculate or from the testicular biopsy, and for increasing sperm motility before IVF.