The present invention relates to inorganic salts of nicotinic acid mononucleotides and compositions of Formula I, useful in the treatment of disorders and diseases associated with deficiencies in NAD.sup.+:

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wherein A, M.sup.1, M.sup.2, k, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are as described herein.

Compositions and methods comprising bioenergetic agents for restoring the quality of aged oocytes, enhancing oogonial stem cells or improving derivatives thereof (e.g., cytoplasm or isolated mitochondria) for use in fertility-enhancing procedures, are described.

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 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.

Processing and use of fluids from the reproductive tract (biofluids) to improve the in vitro production of mammalian embryos comprising the following steps: a) fractionation and processing of biofluids through a sorting, purification, lyophilization and subsequent storage; b) a method of sperm capacitation in a culture medium supplemented with biofluids; c) in vitro fertilization in a medium enriched with biofluids and d) subsequent in vitro culture with development of the obtained embryos to any stage of preimplantational development in culture media supplemented with biofluids.

The present invention provides novel methods for improving the efficiency of artificial activation of unfertilized mammalian oocytes by reducing the intracellular concentration of Zn.sup.2+ in the oocyte. The methods of the invention may additionally comprise a preceding step of increasing the intracellular concentration of Ca.sup.2+ in the oocyte prior to reduction of the intracellular Zn.sup.2+ concentration. The invention further provides unfertilized oocytes activated by the disclosed methods and viable mammalian animals produced from unfertilized oocytes activated by the disclosed methods.

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.

Methods of producing human stem cells are disclosed for parthenogenetically activating human oocytes by manipulation of O.sub.2 tension, including manipulation of Ca.sup.2+ under high O.sub.2 tension and contacting oocytes with serine threonine kinase inhibitors under low O.sub.2 tension, isolating inner cell masses (ICMs) from the activated oocytes, and culturing the cells of the isolated ICMs under high O.sub.2 tension. Moreover, methods are described for the production of stems cells from activated oocytes in the absence of non-human animal products, including the use of human feeder cells/products for culturing ICM/stem cells. Stem cells produced by the disclosed methods are also described.

The present invention provides a novel oocyte maturation medium or/and embryo culture medium with a chemically defined supplement to produce matured oocytes at high efficiency. The inventive medium or supplement comprises three growth factors, namely, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in a synergistic combination. Methods for oocyte and embryo culture are also provided.

Processing and use of fluids from the reproductive tract (biofluids) to improve the in vitro production of mammalian embryos comprising the following steps: a) fractionation and processing of biofluids through a sorting, purification, lyophilization and subsequent storage; b) a method of sperm capacitation in a culture medium supplemented with biofluids; c) in vitro fertilization in a medium enriched with biofluids and d) subsequent in vitro culture with development of the obtained embryos to any stage of preimplantational development in culture media supplemented with biofluids.