Encapsulation of sperm for artificial insemination

Abstract

Sperm are encapsulated in a nontoxic polymer which is freely flowing at body temperature and a gel or solid at temperatures of storage and transfer. On delivery to the reproductive tract, the polymer microcapsule liquifies and the sperm are released.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of encapsulating viable .[.mammalian.]. .Iadd.vertebrate animal .Iaddend.sperm for storage or transfer, and subsequent insemination of a female .[.mammal.]. .Iadd.vertebrate animal.Iaddend., which comprises encapsulating the sperm with a nontoxic hydrophilic polymer, said polymer being essentially freely flowable at the .Iadd.normal .Iaddend.temperature of the .[.uterus.]. .Iadd.reproductive tract .Iaddend.of such .[.mammal.]. .Iadd.vertebrate animal, which temperature is substantially greater than 22° C., .Iaddend.the polymer at the latter temperature being permeable to molecules of a predetermined size but not to the sperm whereby the sperm may receive nutrients and excrete waste products through the microcapsule without escaping; the sperm escaping from the microcapsule at said .[.uterine.]. .Iadd.reproductive tract .Iaddend.temperature when the polymer becomes freely flowable. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition of the polymer to the liquid state is completed within 14 hours after it is brought to 37° C. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sperm are encapsulated by (a) providing viable sperm suspended in a suitable culture medium, (b) adding the polymer to the said sperm suspension, transferring the mixture into molds corresponding to the desired dimensions of the microcapsules, and (c) cooling the mixture until it solidifies into a non-free flowing gel. 
     
     
       4. A method of inseminating .[.an.]. .Iadd.a vertebrate animal whose normal reproductive tract temperature is substantially greater than 22°.Iaddend., which comprises inseminating a receptive female of a species of .Iadd.said .Iaddend.animal with the encapsulated sperm of claim 1, .[.said female.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.permitting the encapsulated sperm to warm to the temperature of the .[.uterus.]. .Iadd.reproductive tract .Iaddend.of the female, at which temperature the capsule is .[.liquiified.]. .Iadd.liquified .Iaddend.and the sperm released. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 in which the sperm are first held at a temperature at which the capsule is essentially solid. 
     
     
       6. An article of manufacture comprising viable sperm of a .[.mammalian.]. .Iadd.vertebrate animal .Iaddend. species .Iadd.whose normal reproductive tract temperature is substantially greater than 22° C., .Iaddend.encapsulated in a microcapsule formed by a nontoxic hydrophilic polymer which is essentially solid at 4° C., said sperm being released by liquefaction of said polymer at the temperature of the .[.uterus.]. .Iadd.reproductive tract .Iaddend.of females of such species, said sperm remaining capable of fertilizing such females after such encapsulation and release. 
     
     
       7. The article of claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.6.Iaddend., wherein the polymer is a polyurethane polymer. 
     
     
       8. The .[.method.]. .Iadd.article .Iaddend.of claim 7, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane polyoxyethylene and polyurethane polyester polymers. 
     
     
       9. The article of claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.6 .Iaddend.in which said microcapsule encloses an atmosphere which is about 5% O 2 , 5% CO 2  and 90% N 2 . 
     
     
       10. The article of claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.6 .Iaddend.in which the polymer is selected from the group consisting of RL39-115, RL39-117, and RL39-118. 
     
     
       11. The article of claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.6 .Iaddend.in which the polymer forms a microcapsule enclosing a culture medium for the sperm, said medium having a pH of about 7.37-7.42. 
     
     
       12. The article of claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.6 .Iaddend.in which the polymer forms a microcapsule enclosing a culture medium for the sperm, said medium provding calcium lactate in an amount sufficient to render the sperm hypermotile when unrestrained by the microcapsule. 
     
     
       13. The article of claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.6 .Iaddend.where the polymer forms a translucent microcapsule about the sperm, whereby its motility may be observed. 
     
     
       14. The article of claim 6 wherein the sperm are held in a state of reduced motility and metabolic activity prior to liquefaction, the motility and metabolic activity of the sperm being restored after liquefaction. 
     
     
       15. The article of claim 6, where more than 50% of the sperm remain viable for 14 days after encapsulation and storage at 4° C. .Iadd. 
     
     
       16.  The method of claim 1 in which the animal is a mammal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The method of claim 4 in which the animal is a mammal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The article of claim 6 in which the animal is a mammal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The method of claim 1 in which the animal has a normal reproductive tract temperature of at least about 37° C. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The method of claim 4 in which the animal has a normal reproductive tract temperature of at least about 37° C. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The article of claim 6 in which the animal has a normal reproductive tract temperature of at least about 37° C. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The method of claim 19 in whic the animal has a normal reproductive tract temperature of about 37° C. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The method of claim 20 in which the animal has a normal reproductive tract temperature of about 37° C. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The article of claim 21 in which the animal has a normal reproductive tract temperature of about 37° C. .Iaddend.