Method for Collection, Storage, and Activation of Immotile Sperm

Technology ID: 98KUMC165 

Description of Technology: Artificial insemination is commonly used breading technique for a variety of animals, including Cattle, Turkeys, Horses, and Pigs. With Cattle, a bull's sperm can easily be retrieved and frozen for an extended period of time with minimal loss of viability or fertility. However, similar methods have proved to be far less successful for a number of important animals. For example, in the turkey, Toms must be raised in the vicinity of hens because their sperm cannot be frozen and only remains functional for several hours. Likewise, sperm from boars and stallions have relatively limited viability, even with the use of “extenders”.

Researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center have developed a method, which increases the longevity of sperm for a number of species. This technique collects the sperm in a storage buffer solution which inhibits their motility by over 90%. Following storage and transportation and just prior to insemination, the sperm are reactivated to their normal motility by addition of an activation buffer. The procedure was originally developed through a NASA grant to extend the viability of sperm, designed to allow experiments to be performed in space from sperm obtained prior to shuttle take-off. Preliminary experiments using toms and stallions have been successful and it is likely that this technique can be adopted to increase the longevity of sperm from a wide variety of species. 

Field of Applications: artificial insemination, large scale/selective animal breeding, wild life preservation 

Advantages:

• Storage (and shipment) of sperm at above freezing temperature
• Reduced risk of sperm contamination prior to storage
• Enabling the activation of immotile sperm without the use of exogenous metabolic inhibitors, antioxidants or detergents

Stage of Development: Needs optimization

Preliminary experiments using toms and stallions have been successful  and it is likely that this technique can be adopted to increase the longevity of sperm from a wide variety of species.

Patent Status: US Patent No. 6,309,815 B1

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