Bull Spermatozoa Express Receptors For Platelet-Activating Factor

• Pablo Bosch The University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
• William Roudebush Reproductive Biology Associates
• Royal McGraw The University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology
• Mel DeJarnette Select Sires Inc
• Clifton Marshall Select Sires Inc
• Joe Massey Reproductive Biology Associates
• Benjamin Brackett The University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology

Resumen

Platelet-activating factor (PAF; 1-O-Alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine) is a ubiquitous phospholipid that is implicated in the mediation of a wide variety of reproductive processes. To better understand the role of PAF in bovine reproduction, it was designed experiments to: (a) determine whether bull spermatozoa express receptors for PAF and (b) study the effect of exogenous PAF on in vitro sperm physiology (i.e., capacitation, acrosome reaction, motility, and fertilizing ability). Bull sperm express PAF receptor as determined by two approaches: RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. However, exposure of spermatozoa to different concentrations of exogenous PAF (10^”“11-10^”“6 M) did not affect capacitation, acrosome reaction or motility. Consistent with these findings, coculture of gametes in medium containing increasing concentrations of PAF (1 x 10^”“8-8 x 10^”“6 M) did not improve in vitro fertilization outcome as measured by percentage of inseminated oocytes reaching 2-cell stage 48 h after fertilization. In contrast, PAF at 8 x 10^”“6 M concentration significantly inhibited IVF. In conclusion, although bull sperm have PAF receptors, exposure of bull spermatozoa to exogenous PAF failed to enhance the sperm function parameters measured in this study. Additional studies are warranted to elucidate the biological role of PAF on bull spermatozoa.