Role of Exogenous Platelet Activating Factor on Sperm Capacitation and Acrosome Reaction in Male-Factor Infertility

Aim: To evaluate the effect of exogenous platelet activating Factor on capacitation and acrosome reaction in the sperms of infertile subjects. Methods: Forty samples of semen were collected, twenty each from non-male factor infertile subjects (controls) and twenty from male factor infertile subjects (patients). The sperms were separated from seminal fluid by using Sydney IVF sperm gradient kit. The sperms were incubated in both sperm wash medium (SWM) and platelet activating factor (PAF). A comparatively new assay, chlortetracycline (CTC) was used to assess the incapacitation, capacitation and acrosome reaction of sperms from both groups. Results: The results were obtained as percentage of sperms stained with chlortetracycline for the specific immunofluoroscent pattern. A significant difference was observed between SWM and PAF groups within normospermic subjects while no statistically difference was found in male-factor infertile subjects. When SWM & PAF groups of controls and patients were compared significant differences were found.