Methods for improvement of semen quality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191029-A1
Application number	US-201715398297-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2017
Priority date	Jan 4, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for improving quality of a mammalian semen sample includes providing an insoluble carrier carrying at least one ligand that binds to an indicator of impaired sperm membrane integrity and/or motility, or the insoluble carrier carrying at least one molecule capable of binding to the at least one ligand, and contacting the semen sample and the insoluble carrier to provide a bound sperm cell population and an unbound sperm cell population, The insoluble carrier may be a plurality of beads each carrying the at least one ligand or the at least one molecule. The indicator may be associated with one or both of impaired sperm acrosome and impaired sperm plasma membrane integrity. The ligand may be an antibody. The molecule may be one of streptavidin, protein A, and an anti-ligand antibody. Kits for performing the method are provided.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A method for improving quality of a mammalian semen sample, comprising:
providing an insoluble carrier carrying at least one ligand that binds to an indicator of impaired sperm membrane integrity and/or impaired sperm motility, or an insoluble carrier carrying at least one molecule capable of binding to the at least one ligand; contacting the semen sample and the insoluble carrier to provide a bound sperm cell population and an unbound sperm cell population; and separating the bound sperm cell population from the unbound sperm cell population.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the insoluble carrier comprises a plurality of beads each carrying the at least one ligand or the at least one molecule.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the semen sample and the insoluble carrier are contacted by admixing.

4 . The method of claim 3 , including a step of separating the bound sperm cell population by size exclusion filtration.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of beads are magnetic beads and the method includes a step of separating the bound sperm cell population by magnetic separation.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is associated with one or both of impaired sperm acrosome and impaired sperm plasma membrane integrity.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ligand is an antibody.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the ligand is an anti-rabbit IgG.

9 . The method of claim 1 , including selecting the molecule from the group consisting of streptavidin, protein A, and an anti-ligand antibody.

10 . The method of claim 1 , including a step of removing a seminal plasma and/or an extender, if present, before the steps of providing, mixing, and separating.

11 . The method of claim 1 , including selecting the mammal from the group consisting of a human, an equine animal, a bovine animal, an ovine animal, and a porcine animal.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the mammal is a bovine animal.

13 . The method of claim 1 , including providing the semen sample as one or more of a freshly collected semen sample, a cooled semen sample, a frozen-thawed semen sample, a neat semen sample, and a diluted semen sample.

14 . A kit containing reagents for improving quality of a mammalian semen sample, comprising:
a binding reagent selected from one of:
i) an insoluble carrier carrying at least one ligand that binds to an indicator of impaired sperm membrane integrity and/or impaired sperm motility; or
ii) the at least one ligand and an insoluble carrier carrying at least one molecule capable of binding to the at least one ligand; and
optionally, other reagents, glass and/or plasticware, and instructions for the use of the insoluble carrier carrying the at least one ligand, or the at least one ligand and an insoluble carrier carrying at least one molecule capable of binding to the at least one ligand, to bind to and separate sperm having impaired membrane integrity and/or impaired motility.

15 . The kit of claim 14 , wherein the insoluble carrier comprises a plurality of beads each carrying the at least one ligand or the at least one molecule.

16 . The kit of claim 15 , further including a size exclusion filter.

17 . The kit of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of beads are magnetic beads.

18 . The kit of claim 17 , further including a magnetic separator.

19 . The kit of claim 14 , wherein the ligand is an antibody.

20 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the ligand is an anti-rabbit IgG.

21 . The kit of claim 14 , wherein the molecule is selected from the group consisting of streptavidin, protein A, and an anti-ligand antibody.

Assignees

• Univ Tennessee Res Found

Inventors

• Edwards J Lannett
• Rispoli Louisa A
• Schrick F Neal

Classifications

• C12N5/061 Primary

  Sperm cells, spermatogonia · CPC title

• C12N5/0612

  sorting of gametes, e.g. according to sex or motility · CPC title