Methods for Modulating Ovulation
The present invention relates to methods and reagents for modulating ovulation in humans and non-human animals.
1 . A method of increasing ovulation in a vertebrate animal having an ovary, comprising administering to said animal a first composition comprising (i) an inducible cAMP early repressor polypeptide or (ii) a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding said polypeptide.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering to the animal a second composition that stimulates ovulation.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second composition comprises a hormonal or a chemical stimulant of ovulation.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the hormonal stimulant is a gonadotropin hormone selected from the group consisting of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH).
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the animal is a mammal.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the mammal is a human.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the human has an infertility disorder.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the infertility disorder is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or oligomenorrhea.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the animal is a fish or a bird.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the animal is a domestic animal.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the domestic animal is a livestock animal.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the domestic animal is a pet animal.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the animal is an animal of an endangered species.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first composition is administered to said ovary of said animal.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inducible cAMP early repressor polypeptide comprises the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first composition is a pharmaceutical composition.
17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting one or more ova from said animal.
18 . A kit for treating infertility, comprising
a first composition comprising (i) an inducible cAMP early repressor polypeptide or (ii) a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding said polypeptide, and
a second composition for treating infertility.
19 . The kit of claim 18 , wherein the second composition comprises a hormonal or a chemical stimulant of ovulation.
20 . The kit of claim 19 , wherein the hormonal stimulant is a gonadotropin hormone selected from the group consisting of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH).
21 . A method of decreasing ovulation in a vertebrate animal comprising administering to the animal a composition comprising an antagonist of an inducible cAMP early repressor polypeptide.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the antagonist is a protein, a peptide, a small molecule compound, an antisense nucleic acid, or an RNAi agent.
23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the inducible cAMP early repressor polypeptide is a mutant or polypeptide analog derived from the sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-8.