Enhanced embryo development of rabbit oocytes fertilized in vitro with platelet activating factor (PAF)-treated spermatozoa.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of PAF treatment of rabbit spermatozoa on in vitro fertilization and subsequent blastocyst formation. Rabbit spermatozoa were exposed to PAF (10(-7) M), lyso-PAF (10(-7) M), or HIS (385 mOsm/kg) for 15 min prior to insemination of ovulated oocytes. Fertilized oocytes were cultured to the hatched blastocyst stage.


RESULTS
Fertilization rates with PAF were significantly higher than those of fresh (P < 0.001), lyso-PAF-treated (P < 0.01), HIS-treated (P < 0.05) spermatozoa. Two-cell embryos produced from oocytes inseminated with PAF-treated spermatozoa had significantly higher hatched blastocysts than oocytes inseminated with fresh (P < 0.01), lyso-PAF-treated (P < 0.05), or HIS-treated (P < 0.05) spermatozoa.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that PAF treatment of spermatozoa increases fertilization rates and subsequent embryonic development.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City.
W E
WE
Roudebush
A I
AI
Fukuda
B S
BS
Minhas
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000187:drug effects*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
D010972:Platelet Activating Factor