This review described origination, biosynthesis and functions of platelet-activat-ing factor (PAF) in the reproductive system of mammals and human beings. The articlemainly focused on biological roles of the phospholipid mediator in sperm fertilizationand embryonic implantation. As an autocrine product of sperm and embryos, PAFmarkedly stimulates sperm motility and fertilization and serves as a capacitationfactor in a ligand-receptor manner. After fertilization, embryo-derived PAF improvesits own development, especially from fertilized ova to blastocyst stage and is thoughtto act as an embryo growth factor in the same manner as on sperm. Its mechanism ofaction was also clarified. At the end, it was presented some advances in its clinicalapplication, followed by discussion of some issues possibly concerning in its currentapplication.
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