Platelet-activating factor improves intrauterine insemination outcome.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate intrauterine insemination pregnancy rates after human spermatozoa exposure to platelet-activating factor.


METHODS
Spermatozoa were incubated with platelet-activating factor in sperm-washing medium before intrauterine insemination. Patients whose sperm were incubated with sperm-washing medium alone served as controls. Pregnancy outcome was determined by ultrasonography (fetal heartbeat).


RESULTS
Patients whose sperm were treated with exogenous platelet-activating factor had a significantly (P <.05) higher pregnancy rate (40%) than patients (20%) not receiving treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Inclusion of platelet-activating factor into a semen processing protocol, before intrauterine insemination, will significantly improve pregnancy rates. Platelet-activating factor may have a stimulatory effect on centriole-intact spermatozoa, enhancing their motility and fertilization success and resulting in improved pregnancy rates. Additional studies will elucidate the reproductive significance of platelet-activating factor activity in spermatozoa and its role in the establishment of pregnancy.
Wild
M D
MD
Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
Roudebush
W E
WE
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D008297:Male; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
D010972:Platelet Activating Factor