Abstract: A composition of matter for increasing the motility and/or percentage of intact acrosomes (PIA) in sperm is described. The composition includes, in combination, an amount of FAA and an amount of TIMP-2, wherein the amounts are effective to increase the motility, the PIA, or the motility and PIA of sperm contacted with the composition. The composition can be used as a cryopreservation medium for sperm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyclonal antibodies directed to mammalian FAA and methods of detecting the presence of FAA in semen by polyclonal antibody assay. This invention pertains to methods of predicting which candidates within a male mammalian population are likely to be the most fertile, by assaying for the presence and/or localization of FAA by utilizing polyclonal antibodies generated against recombinant FAA.

Abstract: Two new heparin-binding proteins (HBP) in bovine seminal fluid are characterized. Both proteins are strongly correlated with enhanced fertility. The first protein exhibits a molecular mass of 31-kDa in SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, and has an N-terminal sequence, as well as internal sequences, closely correlated with deoxyribonuclease I-like protein. The second protein is identified as a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases, and has a 24-kDa molecular mass in SDS-PAGE electrophoresis under reducing conditions, and a 21.5 kDa under non-reducing conditions. N-terminal sequence information for both proteins is provided. Assays for these proteins may be employed to indicate bulls of higher fertility.