Platelet activating factor improves the in vitro penetration of zona free hamster eggs by buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis) spermatozoa

Abstract

Twelve buffalo bulls of Murrah breed, selected on the basis of their conception rates, were classified into low-, moderate- and high-fertility groups. Frozen semen was thawed and treated with 200 μM platelet activating factor (PAF) for 15 min at 37 °C and 5% CO 2. In both treated and control (no PAF) semen samples (five replicates per bull), the following were assessed: motility, acrosome reaction (AR) evaluation (for 10 replicates of each bull), and zona-free hamster oocyte penetration test—to determine aspects of fertilization in vitro, viz., sperm attached per ovum (SA/O), fertilization percent (FP), fertilization index (FI), and polyspermic ova (PO). There was an effect of group ( P < 0.01) on all parameters; all except motility were increased by PAF treatment. However, the group X treatment interaction was not significant for any parameter. The overall mean values of motility, AR, SA/O, FP, FI, and PO, for controls, treated spermatozoa and (net change) were: 42.89 ± 0.85, 36.65 ± 0.85, (−6.24); 28.94 ± 0.46, 61.44 ± 0.58, (32.50); 126 ± 2, 145 ± 2, (19); 74.21 ± 1.59, 89.11 ± 1.18, (14.90); 0.79 ± 0.02, 1.10 ± 0.03, (0.31) and 5.22 ± 1.22, 21.69 ± 1.88, (16.47)%, respectively. In conclusion, PAF significantly increased the AR and other aspects of fertilization, despite a small reduction in motility.