Composition and method to modify sperm function and increase male gender ratio in mammals

Abstract

A composition and method is provided for modifying sperm fertility in mammals for the purpose of biasing the gender in favor of male offspring. The composition includes an amount of a class of compounds of phenoxazine or phenothiazine, having the structure (FIG. 1) and ionic derivatives thereof, wherein R1 is H, a lower alkyl group or N(R3)2, R2 is N, S, O, and R3 is H or a lower alkyl group. A second component of the composition is an amount of a hexose sugar or the phosphorylated hexose esters of such. When mixed with living sperm prior to or at the time of insemination, the composition results in modified rates of conception and an alteration of the birth sex ratio mammals.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Priority is hereby claimed to provisional application 60 / 995,766 filed Sep. 29, 2007 which is incorporated herein.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002]“Not Applicable”REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX [0003]“Not Applicable”.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating sperm for the purpose of modifying sperm function and the gender ratio in offspring of mammalian species. The invention is further directed to a method of using the composition to modify the functionality of mammalian sperm in general and more specifically, to increase sperm fertility for the purpose of enhancing conception. In addition, the invention can be used to modify the fertility of X-chromosome and Y-chromosome bearing sperm and using said sperm in the reproduction processes of artificial insemination (AI), in vitro fer...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a composition and method for modifying the function of sperm, specifically the motility, capacitation, and fertility of both X-chromosome and Y-chromosome bearing sperm. The composition consists of a chromo-phenoxazine compound (Brilliant Cresyl Blue) and a hexose ester or phosphorylated hexose ester compound (D-glucose-6-phosphate). The method involves mixing semen with the composition and incubating it at a suitable temperature for a selected time to modify the sperm function. The treated sperm can then be inseminated or used for in vitro fertilization. The invention can also be used to modify the sex ratio in mammals by exposing living mammalian sperm to the composition. A kit embodiment of the composition and method is also described."

Problems solved by technology

However, the role of glucose metabolism through the hexose-monophosphate shunt (HMS) in spermatozoa is not understood.

The techniques used for these early studies have come into question and the evidence does not prove or disprove the existence of the HMS in sheep or cattle sperm.

However, when exposed to the composition of this invention, the oxidation of G-6-P appears inhibited resulting in reduced fertility levels and fewer female offspring.

This inhibition through the HMS is likely due to a modified redox potential caused by the oxidant chromo-phenoxazine and the absence of an electron transfer agent such as NADPH oxioreductase resulting in a rate limiting turnover (oxidation) of endogenous NADPH.

Without the replenishment of NADP+ by the recycling of NADPH (due the oxidative state of the cell) the pathway would quickly become inhibited and eventually quench resulting in a loss in needed energy precursors.

The result is little or no motility and a potential loss of fertilization capacity regardless of sperm gender.

Patent documents of interest concerning the use of phenoxazine BCB in living tissue are limited to in vitro assays, dye indicators, and staining methodology.

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