Enhanced embryo development of rabbit oocytes fertilized in vitro with platelet activating factor (PAF)-treated spermatozoa

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of PAF treatment of rabbit spermatozoa on in vitro fertilization and subsequent blastocyst formation. Rabbit spermatozoa were exposed to PAF (10 −7 M), lyso-PAF (10 −7 M), or HIS (385 mOsm/kg) for 15 min prior to insemination of ovulated oocytes. Fertilized oocytes were cultured to the hatched blastocyst stage. Fertilization rates with PAF were significantly higher than those of fresh (P <0.001), lyso-PAF-treated (P <0.01), HIS-treated (P <0.05) spermatozoa. Two-cell embryos produced from oocytes inseminated with PAF-treated spermatozoa had significantly higher hatched blastocysts than oocytes inseminated with fresh (P <0.01), lyso-PAF-treated (P <0.05), or HIS-treated (P <0.05) spermatozoa. We conclude that PAF treatment of spermatozoa increases fertilization rates and subsequent embryonic development.