Identifying status of male fertility by determining sperm capacitation
AssigneeCornell University
InventorsAlexander J. TRAVIS, Gianpiero PALERMO
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Abstract
This disclosure provides a method for determining male fertility status. The method comprises determining GM1 distribution patterns following induced sperm capacitation, identifying the frequency of distribution of various patterns, and determining if the frequency distribution of certain GM1 patterns in response to induced capacitation is altered. Based on the change in the frequency distribution patterns of certain patterns in response to induced capacitation, alone or in combination with other sperm attributes, male fertility status can be identified.
Claims34
A method for identifying fertility status of a human male individual comprising:
- exposing a first portion of a sperm sample from the individual to non-capacitating conditions to obtain non-capacitated sperm;
- exposing a second portion of the sperm sample to capacitating conditions to obtain capacitated sperm;
- fixing the capacitated sperm and the non-capacitated sperm with a fixative;
- staining the capacitated sperm and the non-capacitated sperm to identify GM1 patterns;
- determining a frequency of selected GM1 patterns in the capacitated sperm and the non-capacitated sperm;
- and
- comparing the frequency of the selected GM1 patterns in the capacitated sperm to the frequency of the selected GM1 patterns in the non-capacitated sperm, wherein a change in the frequency of one or more of the selected GM1 patterns in the capacitated sperm from the non-capacitating sperm is indicative of the fertility status of the individual.
A method for identifying fertility status of a human male individual comprising:
- obtaining capacitated and non-capacitated sperm, wherein the sperm are from the individual and wherein the sperm have been exposed to non-capacitating or capacitating conditions, fixed, and stained for GM1;
- determining a frequency of selected GM1 patterns in the capacitated sperm and the non-capacitated sperm;
- and
- comparing the frequency of the selected GM1 patterns in the capacitated sperm to the frequency of the selected GM1 patterns in the non-capacitated sperm, wherein a change in the frequency of one or more of the selected GM1 patterns in the capacitated sperm from the non-capacitating sperm is indicative of the fertility status of the individual.
A method for identifying fertility status of a human male individual as infertile, sub-fertile, or fertile, comprising:
- exposing a sperm sample from the individual to capacitating conditions to obtain capacitated sperm;
- fixing the capacitated sperm with a fixative;
- staining the capacitated sperm to identify GM1 patterns;
- determining a frequency of selected GM1 patterns in the capacitated sperm;
- and
- comparing the frequency of one or more GM1 patterns to a reference to determine fertility status of the individual.
A method for identifying fertility status of a male individual comprising:
- obtaining a sperm sample, wherein the sperm sample is from the individual, and wherein the sperm sample has been exposed to capacitating conditions, has been fixed, and has been stained for GM1 patterns;
- determining a frequency of GM1 patterns in the sperm sample;
- and
- comparing the frequency of one or more GM1 patterns to a reference to determine fertility status of the individual.
A kit for identifying fertility status of a male individual comprising:
- a chart having representations of GM1 patterns for comparison or predetermined criteria for GM1 pattern frequencies indicative of fertility status;
- and
- one or more one or more of the following:
- capacitating media, non-capacitating media, fixative composition, reagents for determining GM1, and staining patterns.
A method for measuring the fertility status of a male individual comprising:
- obtaining a sperm sample, wherein the sperm sample is from the individual, and wherein at least a portion of the sperm sample has been exposed to capacitating conditions to obtain capacitated sperm, has been exposed to a fixative, and has been stained for GM1;
- obtaining values for one or more semen parameters of the sperm sample;
- determining a CAP score of the sperm sample based on one or more GM1 patterns in the capacitated sperm;
- and
- calculating a male fertility index (MFI) value of the individual based on the determined CAP score and the one or more obtained semen parameters.
A method for measuring the fertility status of a male individual comprising:
- obtaining a CAP score of a sperm sample of the individual as the frequency of one or more GM1 patterns in the sperm sample;
- obtaining values for one or more semen parameters of the sperm sample;
- and
- calculating a male fertility index (MFI) value of the individual based on the determined CAP score and the one or more semen parameters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.