New strategy of infertility treatment by regulating sperm functions

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07015
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 47030:Pharmaceutical hygiene and biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: Takeo Toru 熊本大学, 生命資源研究・支援センター, 教授 (10517014)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 不妊症 / 受精阻害因子 / マイクロ流体デバイス / 精子選別 / 体外受精 / 受精適期 / リン脂質 / シクロデキストリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The research aims to elucidate the fertilization inhibitory factors and develop new technology to enhance fertilization function. We found that sperm sorting using a microfluidic device enhances the fertilization rate. Furthermore, analysis of the in vivo fertilization environment revealed that there is an optimal time for fertilization in the fallopian tubes, and that fertilization efficiency is increased by synchronizing the time when sperm and egg encounter each other. This year, we demonstrated that the removal of phospholipids is effective in improving sperm fertilization efficiency, and that phospholipid-directed cyclic oligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) are effective in improving the fertilization rate in IVF. In summary, we developed a sperm sorting technique to improve fertilization efficiency, improved in vivo fertilization efficiency, and discovered new compounds that increase the fertilization rate in in vitro fertilization.

Free Research Field

薬学、生殖工学、実験動物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、受精効率を高める精子の選別技術の開発、生体内における受精効率の改善、体外受精における受精率を高める新規化合物を発見し、生殖科学の進展に資する知見が得られた。また、本研究の知見を応用することで、生殖医療、家畜や産業動物の繁殖、絶滅危惧動物の保護に有用な基礎的知見が得られた。