Organic Stress-Reducing Agents for Sperm Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current assisted reproductive technologies (ART) face challenges in maintaining the viability, motility, and fertility of sperm cells due to stress induced during processing and handling, particularly during sex-sorting and cryopreservation, leading to low success rates and high costs in animal breeding and human applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of organic stress-reducing agents (OSRs) such as antioxidants and vitamins at concentrations between 0.01 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml is introduced to sperm cell samples to mitigate stress and improve the integrity, motility, and fertility of sperm cells during handling, processing, and cryopreservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sperm cells undergo processing and handling including sex-sorting and cryopreservation, then the sperm cells can be prepared for ART procedures, but the viability, motility, and fertility of sperm cells deteriorate due to stress induced during processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding organic stress-reducing agents (OSRs) such as antioxidants and vitamins to sperm cell samples before and during processing procedures including sex-sorting and cryopreservation. This preliminary protection mitigates stress-induced damage before it occurs, thereby maintaining sperm viability, motility, and fertility throughout the processing workflow while enabling efficient ART procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses organic stress-reducing agents (OSRs) as intermediary substances that mediate between the harmful processing conditions and the sperm cells. These intermediaries (antioxidants and vitamins) absorb stress and protect the sperm cells from damage during processing, allowing the sperm to maintain their functional properties while undergoing necessary preparations for ART procedures
2Reliability
If conventional processing methods are used without stress reduction, then the processing cost is lower, but the success rate of ART procedures decreases due to reduced sperm quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the processing environment by introducing organic stress-reducing agents (OSRs) at specific concentrations (0.01-5 mg/ml). This parameter change transforms the processing conditions to be more biocompatible, reducing stress on sperm cells and thereby increasing ART success rates. The cost increase is offset by the improved procedural outcomes and reduced need for repeated procedures
3Productivity
If sex-sorting is performed to enrich desired gender, then the fertility efficiency improves, but the cellular integrity and membrane structure of sperm cells are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating organic stress-reducing agents (OSRs) into the processing media before sex-sorting begins. This prior cushioning creates a protective environment that buffers the sperm cells against the mechanical and chemical stress of sorting, thereby maintaining cellular integrity and membrane structure while still achieving the desired gender enrichment and fertility efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for the handling of processed sperm populations including samples that are freshly collected, those transported as fresh samples, as well as samples that are frozen and thawed, those sorted into one or more subpopulations, and those that are otherwise processed or handled that impose trauma on the sperm cell. Such trauma can reduce the motility, fertility, viability and overall integrity of the sperm and reduce the sperm's ability to fertilize an egg, grow into a health embryo and produce a healthy offspring. The present invention relates to novel compounds that can be added to the sperm cell sample to reduce the traumatic effects of physical stress during mild as well as extensive sperm cell processing, methods of using the compounds in standard sperm processing procedures, the end products made from these methods including sperm and embryos, as well as methods of using those end products in assisted reproductive biology techniques in animals.