Related Experiment Videos
Immunofluorescent evidence of the platelet-activating factor receptor on human spermatozoa
J C Reinhardt1, X Cui, W E Roudebush
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA.
Objective:
To determine the presence of the platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor on human spermatozoa.
Design:
Prospective analysis.
Setting:
University-based reproductive biology laboratory.
Patient(S):
Spermatozoa obtained from men undergoing routine semen analysis.
Intervention(S):
Spermatozoa (n = 10) were exposed to PAF, sheep anti-PAF antibody, and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated rabbit antisheep antibody, and then evaluated by fluorescent microscopy.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Assessment of fluorescent intensity at four locations on the spermatozoa (tail, midpiece, proximal head, and acrosome region).
Result(S):
Immunofluorescence demonstrated the presence of the PAF receptor on human spermatozoa. The PAF receptor was most prevalent at two sites on the spermatozoa: the midpiece and the proximal head.
Conclusion(S):
The PAF receptor is present on human spermatozoa. Platelet-activating factor may affect the motility of spermatozoa through a receptor-mediated mechanism at the midpiece and/or proximal head.