• PMID: 16595216
• Gene Name: PAFAH1B2
• Condition: Affects sperm motility, sperm decapacitation
• Association: Associated
• Population size: 312
• Population details: 312 healthy mature men seeking infertility treatment
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Affects sperm motility, sperm decapacitation

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity affects sperm motility and serves as a decapacitation factor

Zhu J, Massey JB, Mitchell-Leef D, Elsner CW, Kort HI, Roudebush WE.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAFah) content in semen and sperm motility. DESIGN: The PAFah levels in semen were measured and correlated with sperm motility. SETTING: Clinical laboratory in a private assistant reproductive technology clinic. PATIENT(S): Three hundred and twelve men seeking diagnosis and treatment of infertility. INTERVENTION(S): Semen samples were collected from 312 healthy mature men seeking infertility treatment. Sperm motility and PAFah activity were measured in seminal plasma. Data was analyzed by Student's t test and regression analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): PAFah activity and sperm motility. RESULT(S): Seminal PAFah content ranged from a low of 179 IU/L to a high of 2,457 IU/L. The overall mean PAFah content in semen was 780.59 IU/L. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant (R2 = 0.655) and negative relationship between PAFah content in semen and sperm motility. Semen specimens with high percent motility (> or = 50%) had significantly lower PAFah concentrations (442.03 +/- 14.37 IU/L) than those with the lower percent sperm motility (< 50%) (882.16 +/- 18.45 IU/L). CONCLUSION(S): The data confirm the presence of PAFah in human semen and that activity is significantly and negatively correlated with sperm motility. The PAFah is proven to be a candidate for sperm decapacitation factors, whereas PAF is qualified to be a candidate for sperm capacitation factors. FAU - Zhu, Jiuming AU - Zhu J AD - Reproductive Biology Associates, Atlanta, Georgia 30342, USA. jiuming_zhu@yahoo.com FAU - Massey, Joe B AU - Massey JB FAU - Mitchell-Leef, Dorothy AU - Mitchell-Leef D FAU - Elsner, Carlene W AU - Elsner CW FAU - Kort, Hilton I AU - Kort HI