The Usefulness of Sperm Kinematics in Drug-Induced Toxicity Assessment

In vitro drug-induced toxicity assessment demands the usability and validation of suitable cell models, obtained non-invasively and pain-free. Sperm suspensions, painlessly and easily obtained from breeding boars, have been proven as suitable biosensors for pre-clinical toxicology screening and ranking of lead compounds in the drug development processes on a kinematics-based assay. Having a limited number of mitochondria and depending on these mitochondria and on cytoplasmic glycolysis for the energy needed for motility and for plasma membrane functionality, spermatozoa become a suitable model for capturing multiple modes of action of drugs and other chemicals acting via measurements of sperm motility. In this MiniReview, the usability of boar spermatozoa as detectors of cytotoxicity based on sperm motility measurements is discussed.