Patent ID: 6258525
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: A61K,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for determining the distribution of mannose lectins on mammalian sperm cells, comprising:a. reacting said sperm cells with a detectible carrier for a time and in a solution comprising a calcium ion concentration of 20 mM or more, wherein said detectible carrier has one or more mannose moieties bound thereto and wherein said reaction produces a distribution of mannose lectin binding patterns consisting of(i) binding to the midpiece of a sperm alone, designated as pattern I,(ii) binding to the whole head and midpiece of a sperm, designated as pattern II, and(iii) binding to the post-acrosomal head region and midpiece of a sperm, designated as pattern III;b. washing said sperm cells with a solution having a calcium ion concentration below physiological calcium level; andc. examining said sperm cells to detect the presence and distribution of detectable carriers on said sperm cells and thereby determine the distribution of mannose lectins on said cells.