Effect of lysoplatelet-activating factor on human sperm fertilizing ability.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the penetration rates in the hamster zona-free oocyte sperm penetration assay (SPA) after exposure of spermatozoa to lysoplatelet-activating factor (LPAF) and lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC).


METHODS
Washed human spermatozoa were exposed to 100 microM of LPAF or LPC, followed by the assessment of their fertilizing ability using the SPA. The percentage of penetration, the sperm binding in the SPA, the percentage of motile spermatozoa, and the acrosome reaction rates were quantified.


METHODS
Private research and university laboratories.


METHODS
Fresh and frozen semen samples from fertile donors with proven fertility were used as well as fresh semen from infertile patients attending a fertility clinic. All the infertile patients had abnormal semen analysis.


METHODS
Human spermatozoa were incubated for 90 minutes in the presence or absence of LPAF or LPC at 100 microM with 0.3% albumin in Ham's F-10 (GIBCO, Dorval, Quebec, Canada), and their fertilizing ability was evaluated using the SPA. The effect of these lysophospholipids on the percentage of acrosome reaction was evaluated with a fluorescent microscopy technique.


RESULTS
The penetration rates of the SPA in male factor increased significantly from 3% +/- 6% with controls to 19% +/- 9% and 34% +/- 22% after incubation with LPC and LPAF, respectively. Sperm-oocyte binding was not significantly increased in this group. Sperm penetration assay penetration rates were also increased in fertile cryopreserved spermatozoa with LPC and LPAF. In this group, the acrosome reaction was significantly increased from 2% +/- 1% in controls to 10% +/- 6% and 8% +/- 3% after incubation with LPC and LPAF, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Lysoplatelet-activating factor and LPC independently increased the penetration rate of spermatozoa and the percentage of acrosome reaction. Lysophosphatidylcholine and LPAF may be beneficial in the treatment of spermatozoa with male factor infertility and may increase fertilization rates in IVF.
Lachapelle
M H
MH
Institut de Médecine de la Reproduction de Montreal, Hopital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Université de Montréal Quebec, Canada.
Bouzayen
R
R
Langlais
J
J
Jarvi
K
K
Bourque
J
J
Miron
P
P
D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000187:drug effects*
D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; C029271:O-deacetyl platelet activating factor; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor