Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Treatment of micro-organisms or enzymes with electrical or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-26
2002-04-30
Yucel, Remy (Department: 1636)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Treatment of micro-organisms or enzymes with electrical or...
C435S002000, C607S143000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06379939
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for improving the fertilizing capability of sperm cells.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The effects of He—Ne laser irradiation on various aspects of cell metabolism have been recognized in recent years. Extensive literature exists on the application of low-power laser irradiation in various biological systems. The therapeutic effects of laser irradiation are usually attributed to the laser parameters, i.e. wavelength, intensity, coherency, polarization or monochromaticity of the light.
Cohen et al.
Photochemistry and Photobiology
, 1998, 68 (3), pp. 407-413 describes that irradiation of mouse spermatozoa with a 630 nm Helium Neon laser enhances their fertilizing potential. Breitbart et al. reported in the
Annual Meeting of the French Andrology Society
, held at Issy-les-Moulinaux on Dec. 6 to 8, 1999, that irradiation of human sperm with a low energy He—Ne laser improves the ability of poor quality sperm to penetrate egg cells.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on the surprising finding that the positive effect of He—Ne laser on sperm fertilizing capability, described by Cohen et al. and Breitbart et al, may also be achieved by any other light source having wavelengths ranging from about 300 to about 1000 nm. Light whose wavelength is in the above range will be referred to hereinafter as ‘light in the extended visible range’. Light having wavelengths between 1000 and about 2000 nm is less efficient, and in any case is hannless to the cells. Therefore, a light source emitting light with a spectrum between, for instance, 600 to 2000 nm may also be used according to the invention.
Thus, the invention provides a method for improving the fertilizing capability of sperm cells by irradiating them with light in the extended visible range, having an intensity of 1 to 1000 mW/cm
2
, provided that this light is not a He—Ne laser light. Preferably the light intensity is between 10 and 500 mW/cm
2
, and more preferably between 40 and 100 mW/cm
2
. The inventors found out that when only UVA light (i.e. light in the range from 300 to 400 nm) is used, an intensity of about 2 mW/cm
2
is preferable and when light in the range of 400 to 800 nm is used, 40 mW/cm
2
intensity is most preferable. The preferable intensity of light of the full extended visible spectral range may be roughly evaluated according to the spectrum of the light source, although the most preferable intensity is to be determined experimentally.
Preferably, the light irradiation should last for 0.5 to 10 minutes, more preferably between 2 and 5 minutes. In particular, the light irradiated on the sperm cells in accordance with the present invention may be any non-laser light, be it monochromatic or polychromatic, polarized or non-polarized, coherent or incoherent. Polychromatic in this sense may be any light having a spectrum broader than 5 nm, preferably broader than 20 nm. In particular, polychromatic light having a spectral breadth covering all the visible range, and possibly a wider range, such as the light emitted by a halogen lamp, may be implemented in the method of the invention. Another non-limiting example of a light source that may be used for the light irradiation in accordance with the invention is a light-emitting diode.
The method of the invention may also be carried out by irradiating the cells with any laser, which is not He—Ne, and which emits light in the extended visible range.
The method of the invention may be implemented by irradiating the sperm cells in vitro or in vivo. In the last case, if the sperm is of a mammal the epididymis of that mammal should be irradiated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 0872219 (1998-10-01), None
Product WS101 specifications [online] Zhoulin Bio-Spectrum Company, 1997 [retrieved Jun. 18, 2001] Retrieved from the Internet: <URL: http://168.160.224.165/english/product-ws101.htm>.*
Derwent Patent Abstract, “of SU 1724204, published Oct. 9, 1989, assigned to Grodno Med Inst (GRMI)”.
Derwent Patent Abstract, “of SU 1267650, published Feb. 4, 1983, assigned to Lengd Doctors Advan (LEDO-R)”.
Derwent Patent Abstract, “of RU 2035858, published Jul. 2, 1992, assigned to Akvatron Stock Co (AKVA-R)”.
Derwent Patent Abstract, “of SU 1747083, published May 29, 1990, assigned to Mosco Pirogov Med Inst (MOPI)”.
Cohen et al., “Light Irradation of Mouse Spermatozoa: Stimulation of In Vitro Fertilization and Calcium Signals”,Photochemistry and photobiology, 1998, pp. 407-413, 68(3).
Soffer et al., Annual Meeting of the French Andrology Society, held at Issy-les-Moulinaux on Dec. 6-8, 1999.
T. Samuel et al., “Sperm-egg Penetration of Human Spermatozoa treated with Various Rabbit Antisera to Huamn Sperm Antigents”,Clin Exp Immunol, 1987, pp. 454-459, 67.
H. Sato et al., “The Effects of Laser Light on Sperm Motility and Velocity in Vitro”,Andrologia, 1984, pp. 23-25, 16(1).
R. Singer et al., “Low Energy Narrow Band Non-Coherent infrared Illumination of Human Semen and Isolated Sperm”,Andrologia, 1991, pp. 181-184, 23.
A, Lenzi et al., “Laser Radiation and Motility Patterns of Human Sperm”,Archives of Andrology, 1989, pp. 229-234, 23.
Browdy and Neimark , P.L.L.C.
Loeb Bronwen M.
Yucel Remy
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