A sperm extender medium

Abstract

A sperm extender medium for prolonging the fertility of bovine spermatozoa during liquid storage of the spermatozoa. The medium includes a monosaccharide energy source for the spermatozoa. The one or more α or β amino acid osmolytes are selected from mono-amino carboxylic and mono-amino sulfonic acids, each independently having an R side group selected from the group consisting of H and non-polar, neutral open aliphatic chains excluding branched C3 and longer aliphatic chains. The medium also includes one or more antioxidants and physiologically acceptable inorganic salts for maintaining sperm viability, and is buffered for maintaining pH in a range of from about 7.0 to about 8.5. Further, the medium may have a concentration of sodium ions of less than about 95 mM, and an osmolarity in a range of from about 290 mOsm/L to about 400 mOsm/L. Preparations including the spermatozoa and methods for preparing the medium and methods for fertilisation of an ovum.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.