The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 25, 1999
Susan Benoff, Riverdale, NY (US);
North Shore University Hospital, Manhassett, NY (US);
Abstract
Methods for labeling mannose lectins on the surface of mammalian sperm cells are described, and methods of categorizing and quantifying the numbers of cells exhibiting particular labeling patterns are also provided. These methods provide ways of detecting whether or not a mammalian male patient has mannose lectin-correlated infertility, which is determined on the basis of the relative numbers of sperm cells labeled with particular labeling patterns. Methods for detecting capacitation-induced changes in the distribution of mannose lectins on mammalian sperm cells are also provided, and these methods can also be used to detect whether or not a mammalian male patient has mannose lectin-correlated infertility, on the basis of the comparative relative labeling in capacitated and non-capacitated sperm cell samples. In addition, the various methods are shown to be useful for determining whether chemical compounds have effects on mammalian sperm cell surface lectin distribution or acrosomal states. For example, they can be used to evaluate the effects of environmental or occupational toxin exposure, and to evaluate the effects of potential or existing drugs, which effects may correlate with changes in sperm fertility. A kit for carrying out the foregoing methods is also provided.