Platelet-activating factor-acether is a component of human follicular fluid

Abstract

Platelet-activating factor-acether (PAF-acether) presence was investigated in 27 human follicular fluids (FFs). Aggregation of washed rabbit platelets was used to measure PAF-acether. Data were compared using Student's t-test. Follicular fluids came from the in vitro fertilization program at Antoine Béclère Hospital, and PAF-acether was assayed at Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unités 187 and 200, Clamart, France. The study concerned five infertile women 29 to 39 years of age. Ovaries were stimulated with human menopausal gonadotropin under gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) action. The height of platelet aggregation was compared between FFs and synthetic PAF-acether. Mean FF concentration of PAF-acether was 1,367 to 3,467 pg/mL among women. Values were higher for patients in a long than in a short GnRH-a protocol (P less than 0.05). However, PAF-acether concentration was not related to fertilization rate. Platelet-activating factor-acether is possibly involved in oocyte release from the follicle, a process occulted by follicular puncture.