Methyl Donor Composition for Mare Oocyte Maturation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mares exhibit lower reproductive performance and fertility issues due to factors such as endometritis, anovulatory follicles, age, metabolic syndrome, and disrupted oocyte maturation, which are not adequately addressed by existing dietary supplements.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising methyl donors like glucobrassicin, sulforaphane, lignans, cysteine, choline, and betaine, administered to equids, optimizes oocyte maturation by regulating methylation processes and gene expression, enhancing oocyte quality and quantity through OPU and ex vivo fertilization methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing dietary supplements are administered to mares, then some nutritional support is provided, but fertility problems and disrupted oocyte maturation are not adequately addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the dietary supplement by incorporating specific methyl donors (betaine, choline, S-adenosylmethionine, S-adenosylhomocysteine) at optimized concentrations. These parameter changes directly address the methylation disruption in oocytes, improving maturation quality and fertility outcomes beyond what existing supplements achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite dietary composition combining multiple methyl donors (betaine, choline, SAM, SAH) with specific ratios. This composite approach synergistically addresses multiple aspects of methylation disruption simultaneously, providing comprehensive support for oocyte maturation that single-component supplements cannot achieve.
2Productivity
If mares with age or health complications are bred naturally, then breeding attempts can be made, but successful fertilization and embryo development are compromised due to poor oocyte quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by administering the methyl donor composition to mares before oocyte collection and fertilization procedures. This pre-treatment optimizes oocyte methylation status and maturation quality in advance, ensuring that even oocytes from older or health-compromised mares have improved competence for successful fertilization and embryo development.
3Quantity of substance
If OPU procedures are performed on mares with poor fertility, then oocyte collection is attempted, but low oocyte quantity and quality result in failed fertilization or embryo development
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the biochemical parameters of the oocytes through methyl donor supplementation, specifically improving DNA methylation patterns and gene expression profiles. This parameter change enhances both the quantity of collectable oocytes and their developmental competence, allowing successful OPU outcomes even in mares previously considered poor candidates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition increases the number and quality of unfertilized oocytes collected from mare ovaries, optimizing OPU and subsequent fertilization, enabling successful breeding from valuable mares with age or health complications.
Implementation Method 1
Methylation, the process by which methyl groups are added to DNA and histones, plays a crucial role in the epigenetic regulation of genes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a composition for use in treating ovulatory infertility in equids, the composition comprising a mixture of one or more methyl donors. The invention also relates to a method for collecting one or more unfertilized oocytes from the follicles of the ovaries of a subject of the equid group and ex vivo fertilizing these one or more oocytes, wherein prior to collecting the one or more unfertilized oocytes a compound is administered to the subject. The invention also relates to a feed additive for equids.