[The spermicidal activity of fish oil, polyunsaturated fatty acids and their sodium salts].

The chief polyunsaturated fatty acids and unsaturated acids known to exist in fish oil are: docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and docosenoic acid. They have been made into emulsions of pluronic F68-physiological saline and sodium salts physiological saline solutions. Following that, the action of their spermicidal activities in vitro occurred. Emulsion and sodium salt solutions of docosahexaenoic acid had the strongest spermicidal activity observed. The most efficient concentration was 0.001 mM, similar to that of propranolol. In line for most efficient after that were eicosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, oleic acid, and docosenoic acid. The experimental results indicated that the spermicidal activity of fatty acid was intensified with the increase of the unsaturated bond. Besides, the most efficient concentration of either morrhuic acid or sodium morrhuate was 0.1%. Therefore, they contained more docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid and were ideal spermicides in vitro. The spermicidal mechanism of fatty acids may be related to the potential action of the carboxyl group. (author's modified)