title: Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity affects sperm motility and serves as a decapacitation factor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAFah) content in semen and sperm motility.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PAFah levels in semen were measured and correlated with sperm motility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical laboratory in a private assistant reproductive technology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and twelve men seeking diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen samples were collected from 312 healthy mature men seeking infertility treatment. Sperm motility and PAFah activity were measured in seminal plasma. Data was analyzed by Student's t test and regression analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  PAFah activity and sperm motility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seminal PAFah content ranged from a low of 179 IU/L to a high of 2,457 IU/L. The overall mean PAFah content in semen was 780.59 IU/L. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant (R2 = 0.655) and negative relationship between PAFah content in semen and sperm motility. Semen specimens with high percent motility (> or = 50%) had significantly lower PAFah concentrations (442.03 +/- 14.37 IU/L) than those with the lower percent sperm motility (< 50%) (882.16 +/- 18.45 IU/L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data confirm the presence of PAFah in human semen and that activity is significantly and negatively correlated with sperm motility. The PAFah is proven to be a candidate for sperm decapacitation factors, whereas PAF is qualified to be a candidate for sperm capacitation factors.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Biology Associates, Atlanta, Georgia 30342, USA. jiuming_zhu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jiuming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Joe B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitchell-Leef
authors.forename: Carlene W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Elsner
authors.forename: Hilton I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Kort
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Roudebush
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012372:ROC Curve; D013075:Sperm Capacitation; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase