title: Platelet activating factor improves the in vitro penetration of zona free hamster eggs by buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) spermatozoa.
abstract: Twelve buffalo bulls of Murrah breed, selected on the basis of their conception rates, were classified into low-, moderate- and high-fertility groups. Frozen semen was thawed and treated with 200 microM platelet activating factor (PAF) for 15 min at 37 degrees C and 5% CO2. In both treated and control (no PAF) semen samples (five replicates per bull), the following were assessed: motility, acrosome reaction (AR) evaluation (for 10 replicates of each bull), and zona-free hamster oocyte penetration test--to determine aspects of fertilization in vitro, viz., sperm attached per ovum (SA/O), fertilization percent (FP), fertilization index (FI), and polyspermic ova (PO). There was an effect of group (P < 0.01) on all parameters; all except motility were increased by PAF treatment. However, the group X treatment interaction was not significant for any parameter. The overall mean values of motility, AR, SA/O, FP, FI, and PO, for controls, treated spermatozoa and (net change) were: 42.89 +/- 0.85, 36.65 +/- 0.85, (-6.24); 28.94 +/- 0.46, 61.44 +/- 0.58, (32.50); 126 +/- 2, 145 +/- 2, (19); 74.21 +/- 1.59, 89.11 +/- 1.18, (14.90); 0.79 +/- 0.02, 1.10 +/- 0.03, (0.31) and 5.22 +/- 1.22, 21.69 +/- 1.88, (16.47)%, respectively. In conclusion, PAF significantly increased the AR and other aspects of fertilization, despite a small reduction in motility.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Laboratory, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132 001, India. subkum@lycos.com
authors.forename: Subodh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Arjava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013480:Superovulation; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor