Enhancement of fertilization capability of oocytes

• US 5,693,534 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Genentech, Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Genentech, Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Wolf, Don P., Woodruff, Teresa K., Stouffer, Richard L., Alak, Baha M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lankford, Blaine
• Application Number:
  US08/463,370
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 435/240.2, 435/240.3, 435/240.31, 435/325, 435/366, 435/364
• US Class Current: 435/366
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/54 Ovaries; Ova; Ovules; Embryos; Foetal cells; Germ cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/22 Hormones derived from pro-opiomelanocortin, pro-enkephalin or pro-dynorphin A61K38/33, e.g. corticotropin A61K38/35
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/02 Atmosphere, e.g. low oxygen conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2500/60 Buffer, e.g. pH regulation, osmotic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/16 Activin; Inhibin; Mullerian inhibiting substance
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0609 Oocytes, oogonia fertilised oocytes C12N5/0604

Abstract

A method is provided for increasing the fertilization potential of oocytes comprising culturing oocytes in vitro with an effective amount of inhibin, activin, or a combination of inhibin and activin. Preferably the oocytes being cultured are immature. After the culturing step, the oocytes can be fertilized. The oocytes are suitably cryopreserved and thawed before the culturing step.

Claims

1. A composition comprising human or non-human primate oocytes and a culture medium which comprises at least about 0.01 ng/ml of human activin and at least about 0.01 ng/ml of human inhibin.