Methods are provided for stimulating ovarian preantral and antral follicles in a mammal.

The present invention provides a new and improved sperm stimulating additive comprising a certain amount of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi). Addition of PPi in the media for human/animal in vitro fertilization (IVF) improves fertilization rate; addition of PPi in the semen extender for farm animal artificial insemination (AI) may improve pregnancy rates; furthermore, mammalian oocytes matured in vitro in a medium including PPi attain improved fertilization and developmental potential, while embryos cultured in medium supplemented with PPi have improved development to blastocyst.

The invention relates to transgenic animals lacking endogenous Ig and capable of producing transgenic antibodies, as well as methods of making the same. The invention further relates to methods for producing transgenic antibodies in such animals, and transgenic antibodies so produced.

A problem of this invention it to provide a method for differentiate a primordial germ cell into a functional GV stage oocyte by in vitro culture.

This invention relates to a method for differentiating a primordial germ cell into a functional GV stage oocyte by in vitro culture, comprising: (a) a step of producing a secondary follicle by culturing the primordial germ cell and supporting cells adjacent to the primordial germ cells under conditions that eliminate the effects of estrogen or a factor having a similar function to estrogen; (b) a step of partially dissociating cells between a granulosa cell layer and a thecal cell layer, wherein an oocyte, the granulosa cell layer, and the thecal cell layer constitute the produced secondary follicle; and (c) a step of differentiating the oocyte into a functional GV stage oocyte by culturing the oocyte, the granulosa cell layer, and the thecal cell layer that constitute the secondary follicle in a medium containing a high-molecular-weight compound.

Ovarian germ-line-competent embryonic stem cells (GLC-ESC) are cultured, either in the presence or absence of a compound having estrogenic activity. The GLC-ESC are either collected prior to specific commitment or are permitted to remain in the culture medium for a time sufficient to develop into oocytes, and the oocytes may be fertilized by adding sperm to the culture medium. The fertilized oocytes may be permitted to develop into embryos, which may be transferred into the uterus of an adult human female or frozen for later use. The invention provides a method for obtaining by in vitro fertilization an embryo that is genetically related to a human female who is not producing oocytes.

The present invention provides methods for making reconstructed diploid human oocytes comprising the diploid genome of a human somatic cell, and also methods for making human nuclear transfer embryos, human embryonic stem cells, and human differentiated cells therefrom. The present invention also provides reconstructed human oocytes, human nuclear transfer embryos, human embryonic stem cells, and differentiated cells made using such methods, as well as compositions and kits useful in performing such methods.

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.

The present invention generally relates to non-linear imaging systems and methods for use in various assisted reproductive technologies and other applications. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to two-photon and other non-linear microscope techniques that can be used to determine the status or maturity state of eggs or egg follicles, for example by determining the presence of polar bodies within the egg follicles. In some embodiments, endogenous metabolites, such as NADH or FAD, can be determined, and in some cases without externally altering those metabolite concentrations or without adding other compounds. Other embodiments of the invention are also directed to computer programs or systems that can be used to determine the status or maturity state of eggs or egg follicles, kits involving such systems, or the like.

The present invention relates to a composition and method for assisted reproductive technology in mammals. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for in vivo maturation of an immature cumulus oocyte complex (COC), thereby enhancing the embryology outcome.

A mesenchymal stem cell harvesting system and method for increasing the efficiency of collecting and processing physiological fluids containing mesenchymal stem cells from a cavity within a patient's skeletal system. Microenvironments risk in MSC production and concentration within a cavity, for example the patient's ilium, are penetrated with a pointed instrument used to create an aperture in the hard cortical bone forming the cavity followed by the insertion of an aspiration device which extracts one or more samples of cancellous bone, bone marrow, bone marrow blood and other aspirated material. The aspirate is rinsed and may be filtered to remove unwanted material and to increase the concentration and purity of the mesenchymal stem cells in the aspirant far beyond levels formerly obtainable for use in autologous treatment of the patient.