MODULATION OF SPERM MOTILITY
Provided are methods of enhancing the fertility of mammalian spermatozoa involving contacting the spermatozoa with adenosine 5′-triphosphate and method of fertilization using spermatozoa treated in this way.
1 . A method of enhancing the motility of a mammalian spermatozoon, the method comprising contacting a spermatozoon from a mammalian subject with extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP).
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, prior to the contacting, a plurality of spermatozoa from the mammalian subject are identified as having decreased motility.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammalian subject is a human subject.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammalian subject is an equine subject.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting comprises culturing the spermatazoon in a physiological medium with the ATP dissolved therein.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting is for about 10 minutes to about 120 minutes.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting is for about 60 minutes.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of extracellular ATP at the initiation of the contacting is about 100 uM to about 5 mM.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of extracellular ATP at the initiation of the contacting is about 2.5 mM.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting is at about 18° C. to about 37° C.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting is at about 37° C.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein prior to the contacting, the spermatozoon is substantially separated from seminal plasma.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, after the contacting, the motility of the spermatozoon is assessed.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting occurs in a mammalian female reproductive tract.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the mammalian female is a human.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the mammalian female is an equine subject.
17 . A method of fertilizing a mammalian egg, the method comprising contacting a mammalian egg with a mammalian spermatozoon that has undergone the method of claim 1 .
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the contacting of the mammalian egg occurs in vitro.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein, after the contacting of the mammalian egg and the contacted egg has been fertilized and become an embryo, the mammalian egg is placed in a mammalian uterus.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the contacting of the mammalian egg occurs in vivo.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the contacting of the mammalian egg occurs in a female reproductive tract.
22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the mammalian spermatozoon is a human spermatozoon and the mammalian egg is a human egg.
23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the mammalian spermatozoon is an equine spermatozoon and the mammalian egg is an equine egg.
24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the spermatozoon is obtained from an asthenozoospermic subject.
25 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the spermatozoon is obtained from an asthenozoospermic subject.