Platelet-activating factor induces acrosome reaction via the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in human spermatozoa

Andrologia. 2020 Jun;52(5):e13565. doi: 10.1111/and.13565. Epub 2020 Mar 18.

Abstract

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) affects capacitation, acrosome reaction and fertilisation potential of spermatozoa. This study investigated the underlying mechanism(s) through which PAF regulated sperm function. Our data demonstrated that PAF dose-dependently induced, whilst lyso-PAF (PAF precursor) showed no effect on acrosome reaction of capacitated human spermatozoa. Treatment with PAF for 90 min enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation and expression of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1 and 2 in human spermatozoa. Moreover, pre-treatment with the ERK inhibitor U0126 significantly and dose-dependently suppressed PAF-induced acrosome reaction. Therefore, PAF may be actively involved in the modulation of sperm acrosome reaction by interacting with ERK. The role of PAF in fertilisation warrants further investigation.

Keywords: ERK; acrosome reaction; human spermatozoa; motility; platelet-activating factor.

MeSH terms

  • Acrosome Reaction / drug effects*
  • Butadienes / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / drug therapy*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Nitriles / pharmacology
  • Platelet Activating Factor / pharmacology*
  • Platelet Activating Factor / therapeutic use
  • Sperm Capacitation / drug effects
  • Sperm Motility / drug effects

Substances

  • Butadienes
  • Nitriles
  • Platelet Activating Factor
  • U 0126
  • MAPK1 protein, human
  • MAPK3 protein, human
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3