[The role of platelet activating factor in ovulation]

Ovulation is associated with inflammation-like changes. Platelet activating factor (PAF) participates in the inflammatory process. We evaluated the potential role of PAF in PMSG-HCG induced ovulation with CV3988, a specific PAF receptor antagonist in hyperovulated ICR mice (9-12 weeks old). Furthermore, we investigated whether prostaglandins (PGs) interfered with the ovulation induced by PAF. CV3988 blocked the ovulation in a dose dependent manner, and the significantly reduced ovulatory efficiency was observed at a dose greater than 500 micrograms (p less than 0.001). The ovulatory efficiency reduced by CV3988 (at a dose of 500 micrograms) was recovered by PAF in a dose dependent manner. PGs production in ovary was increased in reversing the blockade of ovulation with CV3988. These results suggest that PAF may be involved in the ovulation process and PGs may not potentiate the ability of PAF to play a role in ovulation.