This review described origination, biosynthesis and functions of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the reproductive system of mammals and human beings. The article mainly focused on biological roles of the phospho...This review described origination, biosynthesis and functions of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the reproductive system of mammals and human beings. The article mainly focused on biological roles of the phospholipid mediator in sperm fertilization and embryonic implantation. As an autocrine product of sperm and embryos, PAF markedly stimulates sperm motility and fertilization and serves as a capacitation factor in a ligand-receptor manner, After fertilization, embryo-derived PAF improves its own development, especially from fertilized ova to blastocyst stage and is thought to act as an embryo growth factor in the same manner as on sperm. Its mechanism of action was also clarified. At the end, it was presented some advances in its clinical application, followed by discussion of some issues possibly concerning in its current application.展开更多
文摘This review described origination, biosynthesis and functions of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the reproductive system of mammals and human beings. The article mainly focused on biological roles of the phospholipid mediator in sperm fertilization and embryonic implantation. As an autocrine product of sperm and embryos, PAF markedly stimulates sperm motility and fertilization and serves as a capacitation factor in a ligand-receptor manner, After fertilization, embryo-derived PAF improves its own development, especially from fertilized ova to blastocyst stage and is thought to act as an embryo growth factor in the same manner as on sperm. Its mechanism of action was also clarified. At the end, it was presented some advances in its clinical application, followed by discussion of some issues possibly concerning in its current application.