A cytometer includes an avalanche photodiode, a switching power supply, a filter, and voltage adjustment circuitry. The switching power supply includes a feedback loop. The filter is electrically connected between the switching power supply and the avalanche photodiode. The voltage adjustment circuitry adjusts a voltage on the feedback loop based at least in part on a voltage measured between the filter and the avalanche photodiode.

A urine-derived mesenchymal stem cell mitochondria as well as a transplantation method and use thereof. The urine-derived mesenchymal stem cell mitochondrion is extracted from urine to be used for improving the quality of oocytes. The transplantation method comprises: jointly injecting sperms and the urine-derived mesenchymal stem cell mitochondria into mature oocytes for blastaea culture during the intracytoplasmic sperm microinjection. The present disclosure has the beneficial effects: during the traditional ICSI in combination with the transplantation of the urine-derived mesenchymal stem cell mitochondria, the fertilization rate of human in-vitro fertilization and the quality of embryos are significantly improved; the urine-derived mesenchymal stem cell mitochondria of the present disclosure can be used for in-vitro fertilization of low-prognosis patients with infertility with a good treatment effect; the problem of an autologous mitochondrion source in the prior art is solved without involving the introduction of a third-party genetic material and ethical issues.

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.

Semen and sperm cell processing and preservation systems, and methods of producing a mammal and methods of producing mammalian embryos are disclosed. The present invention is directed to sperm cell preservation, fertilization, and insemination, maintaining or enhancing sperm quality and addressing one or more sperm cell characteristics, such as viability, motility, functionality, fertilization rates, and pregnancy rates. Further, sperm cell characteristics may be addressed within the context of various collection, handling, separation, storage, transportation, usage, fertilization, or insemination techniques.

Artificial cervical fluid is disclosed that contains a mucilaginous extract from the okra plant. The mucilaginous extract can be produced using a hot aqueous extractant or cold extraction process followed by separation of larger particles from the extract. The extract finds many uses, for example as a sperm storage medium, a sperm freezing medium, a sexual lubricant, an artificial insemination medium, and an in vitro fertilization medium.

Methods and compositions directed to altering a population of sRNAs in a sperm using vesicles isolated from an epididymosome are provided. Methods and compositions directed to altering a population of sRNAs in an oocyte using vesicles isolated from an epididymosome are also provided. Methods for altering an sRNA population in a sperm or an oocyte can be used to prevent, or reduce the severity of, a disease, disorder, or condition that would otherwise be inherited by progeny. For example, certain epigenetic inherited conditions due to paternal effects, such as certain metabolic and stress disorders and conditions, can be ameliorated in progeny using sperm or oocytes having an altered sRNA population.

Stabilized amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) for treatment of several neurological, muscular and infertility diseases and conditions is provided. In particular, the stabilized ACC may be used in the treatment of axonal defects and muscular dystrophy. In addition, provided are improved methods used in assistant reproductive technology. Examples of such methods are in vitro fertilization and improvement of sperm quality. The improved IVF method, for example, comprises addition of the stabilized ACC to the cell culture medium in which the stages of fertilization and embryo development occurs.

Maintenance of adult tissues depends on stem cell self-renewal in local niches. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) are germline adult stem cells necessary for spermatogenesis and fertility. The present invention relates utilization of testicular endothelial cells (TECs) in the SSC niche producing glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and other factors to support human and mammal SSCs in long-term culture. The present invention also relates to utilization of five factors sufficient for long-term maintenance of human and mammal SSC colonies in feeder-free cultures. Male cancer survivors after chemotherapy are often infertile since SSCs are highly susceptible to cytotoxic injury. Transplantation of TECs alone is used to restore spermatogenesis in mice after chemotherapy-induced depletion of SSCs.

Artificial cervical fluid is disclosed that contains a mucilaginous extract from the okra plant. The mucilaginous extract can be produced using a hot aqueous extractant or cold extraction process followed by separation of larger particles from the extract. The extract finds many uses, for example as a sperm storage medium, a sperm freezing medium, a sexual lubricant, an artificial insemination medium, and an in vitro fertilization medium.

A purified antibody, or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, is provided that binds selectively to a protein specific to an X-chromosome of a mammalian sperm cell. The sperm cell protein includes an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 9-16. The antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof may be derived by immunization of a host by an antigenic peptide composition including one or more natural or synthetic antigenic peptide sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and SEQ ID NOs: 4 and 9-16. The antibody finds utility in identifying an X-chromosome bearing sperm cell population, and in methods for skewing a sex ratio in mammals. Embodiments of the subject antibodies referred to herein as anti-GX1-E protein antibody and anti-GX1-M protein antibody have the ATCC Patent Deposit Designations PTA-125897 and PTA-125898, having been deposited on Apr. 2, 2019.