Lübeck, University, Thesis (doctoral), 2001.

Thesis (M.S.) --University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Queensland, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Pharmacology / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-119).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-179).

University, Diss., 2006--Würzburg. / Erscheinungsjahr an der Haupttitelstelle: 2005.

Capacitation of spermatozoa is essential for fertilization. Rabbit spermatozoa are particularly difficult to capacitate in vitro and require treatment with high-ionic-strength Brackett's defined medium. Spermatozoa treated with platelet activating factor had significantly higher fertilization rates when compared with nontreated (fresh, twice washed) spermatozoa (63% vs 34%). Fertilization rates of spermatozoa treated with platelet activating factor, although higher than those of high-ionic-strength capacitated spermatozoa, were not significantly different (63% vs 57%). Spermatozoa treated with lyso-platelet activating factor, the biologically inactive form of platelet activating factor, were noted to have fertilization rates similar to those of the untreated (noncapacitated) group. These data show that synthetic platelet activating factor treatment of uncapacitatedspermatozoa induces fertilization of rabbit oocytes in vitro in a manner similar to that for spermatozoa capacitated by high-ionic-strength media and significantly higher than that for untreated spermatozoa or after treatment with the biologically inactive form of platelet activating factor (lyso-platelet activating factor).

The objective of this study was to determine whether neutrophils play a significant role in anaphylaxis or in the response to the anaphylactic mediator platelet activating factor (PAF) in the rabbit. Vinblastine and anti-neutrophil antibodies were compared as neutrophil depleting agents, and 0.35 mg/kg vinblastine was selected as optimal for efficiency and specificity of depletion. Anaphylaxis was induced in sensitized rabbits by intravenous antigen challenge. Neutrophil depletion to 399 ± 101 cells/mm³ blood (14 ± 3%) did not significantly inhibit the physiologic and hematologic events associated with anaphylaxis except tachycardia. However, vinblastine pretreatment significantly reduced tachycardia and the right ventricular pressure increase and abolished the increase in pulmonary resistance caused by intravenous PAF. We conclude that although neutrophils do not play a significant role in IgE-anaphylaxis, they are important in the PAF-induced increases in right ventricular pressure and pulmonary resistance. PAF may not be a major mediator of these two physiologic alterations in IgE-anaphylaxis.