Abstract: Provided are a diluent and a sperm preservation method using the diluent. The diluent is useful in preservation of sperm with high fertility, and is capable of stably achieving quality control and improving quality of the sperm. Refrigerating or freezing sperm using the diluent for sperm, which includes an aqueous solution containing at least one oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of a fructo-oligosaccharide, an isomalto-oligosaccharide, a gentio-oligosaccharide, and a galacto-oligosaccharide, can improve the quality of preserved sperm and provide sperm having high fertility, at a reduced cost.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of developing a simple sperm inspection method and device for reflecting fertility. In the present invention, a simple sperm inspection method and device having a high correlation with fertility can be provided by suspending a sperm population in an inspection liquid and measuring a quality indicator value for each sperm, stratifying the sperm population on the basis of the sperm quality indicator value, and evaluating the quality of the sperm on the basis of the quality indicator value of one or a plurality of groups in the stratified population. This standard can predict fertility with higher precision through use of a graph in which the quality indicator values for individual sperm of the sperm population are arranged in sequence. Sperm motility is preferably used as a sperm quality indicator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a straw for cryopreservation that improves the chance of conception of semen after cryopreservation. The straw is produced by introducing a partitioning layer into a straw for artificial insemination to separate layers, thereby forming a semen storage layer containing an aqueous solution containing semen and an anti-freeze agent on one side and a dilution layer containing no anti-freeze agent on the other side, wherein a dilution solution containing an aqueous solution containing tris(hydroxymethyl aminomethane), citric acid, glucose and sodium chloride is used in the dilution layer.

Abstract: [Problem] To improve the conception chance of semen after cryopreservation by improving conventional straws for artificial insemination. [Solution] A straw for cryopreservation is produced by introducing a partitioning layer into a straw for artificial insemination to separate layers, thereby forming a semen storage layer comprising an aqueous solution containing semen and an anti-freeze agent on one side and a dilution layer containing no anti-freeze agent on the other side, wherein a dilution solution comprising an aqueous solution containing tris(hydroxymethyl aminomethane), citric acid, glucose and sodium chloride is used in the dilution layer.

Abstract: A method for gene diagnosis of bovine Hsp70 deficiency, which comprises (a) a step of obtaining a bovine nucleic acid sample, (b) a step of subjecting the nucleic acid sample obtained in step (a) to a gene amplification reaction to obtain a nucleic acid fragment in which a region including a mutation site likely to be present in bovine Hsp70 gene is amplified, and (c) a step of examining the presence of mutation on the nucleic acid fragment in step (b), the region including the mutation site being a region including 1997-11030 position of a base sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 1 of SEQUENCE LISTING in a base sequence of bovine Hsp70 gene. According to the invention, bovine Hsp70 deficiency and its carrier can be detected and diagnosed by a genetic engineering method easily and quickly, and a kit used for this purpose is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a gene specifically expressed in haploid cells of the testis. The gene is located on the X-chromosome of a mammal, is specifically expressed in haploid cells of the testis, has a base sequence which can hybridize, under stringent conditions, with DNA including a base sequence in SEQ ID NO: 1, and encodes a protein including an amino acid sequence having a homology of at least 25% with an amino acid sequence encoded by the drosophila gcl gene.

Abstract: The injector of the present invention (10) comprises a heat-retaining tube (12), an outer pipe (18) for inserting into a uterus which is fixed parallel to a front end of the heat-retaining tube (12), a syringe (22) for injection inserted into the heat-retaining tube (12) from the rear end of the heat-retaining tube (12), an elastic and flexible tube for injection (24) which is connected to the front end of the syringe (22) and is pulled out of the front end of the heat-retaining tube and is inserted slidably into inside of the hollow of the outer pipe (18),and a discharge nozzle (28) which is mounted integrally to the front end of the tube (24) and projects from the front end of the tube (18), and in which a portion between a projecting position from the heat-retaining tube (12) and the outer pipe (18) is regarded as a surplus length portion (24a) and the surplus length portion (24a) is paid out in a state that the outer pipe (18) is inserted to a given depth in a uterus, thereby making the discharge nozzle (