Received August 15, 2022
Accepted January 19, 2023

Objective: Human sperm motility and hyperactivation (HA) are induced by different factors such as intracellular calcium concentration. Repaglinide is an antidiabetic drug that via the blocking of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K-ATP channels) , depolarization of the B-cell membrane, and opening of the voltage-gated calcium channels leads to an increase in intracellular calcium. The present study aimed to examine the effects of repaglinide on in vitro sperm motility parameters, viability, and DNA integrity in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men. Methods: Semen samples were collected from two groups of normozoospermic donors and asthenozoospermic patients that were washed free of seminal plasma and then treated with medium alone (control) and with 100 nM and 1µM concentrations of repaglinide. After 1 h of incubation, the percentage of sperm motility and hyperactivation were assessed and after 2 h of incubation sperm viability and DNA, fragmentation rate was evaluated by the Eosin-Y and acridine orange staining, respectively. Results: Results showed that in both groups repaglinide at a concentration of 100 nM and 1µM significantly improved the percentage of sperm motility, hyperactivation, and vital sperms with normal DNA, but in the normozoospermic 1µM concentration has a noticeable effect on progressive motility and in the asthenozoospermic group, the highest hyperactivation rate was seen in 100 nM as compared with 1µM concentration and control (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that repaglinide can improve sperm motility, hyperactivity, viability, and DNA integrity in both normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men.