Platelet-activating factor in sperm from fertile and subfertile men.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the proposed role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) as a mediator of sperm function first by quantitating the concentration of PAF in sperm and second by incubating sperm with PAF and assessing the change in sperm motion parameters with a computerized motion analysis system.


METHODS
Retrospective, case-control study.


METHODS
University hospital urology clinic.


METHODS
Concentrations of PAF were measured in sperm from 6 randomly chosen normal donors and 8 asthenozoospermic patients. The change in sperm motion parameters was assessed in sperm from 10 randomly chosen normal donors and 7 asthenozoospermic patients.


RESULTS
Platelet-activating factor concentrations were significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic patients (149 +/- 18.0 fmol/10(6) sperm) than in sperm from normal donors (91.9 +/- 13.0 fmol/10(6) sperm). Exogenous PAF did not enhance the percent motility of precapacitated or capacitated sperm from either patients or donors, and computerized semen analysis revealed no enhancement of sperm motion parameters in asthenozoospermic patients after addition of PAF to either precapacitated or capacitated sperm.


CONCLUSIONS
Platelet-activating factor does not appear to have therapeutic value as a means of enhancing sperm motility.
Angle
M J
MJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.
Tom
R
R
Khoo
D
D
McClure
R D
RD
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D010972:Platelet Activating Factor