Abstract: The invention relates to the use of phospholipase C zeta in inducing or promoting the activation of oocytes, preferably human oocytes, nuclear transfer embryos, parthenogenic embryos, cross species embryos and during in vitro fertilization. The invention further relates to methods of detecting levels of expression of phospholipase c zeta in sperm as a means of detecting male infertility. The invention also relates to the use of phospholipase C zeta to treat male infertility. Still further the invention relates to the recombinant cells that are engineered to express phospholipase C zeta, preferably under inducible conditions. Also, the invention relates to antibodies specific to phospholipase C zeta, preferably human phospholipase C zeta.

Abstract: The specification described a novel compound, oscillogenin, which is an active agent in furthering oocyte fertilization by sperm or in parthenogenetic activation of an oocyte.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for parthenogenetic activation by injection and subsequent removal of a sperm into a mammalian cell, for example, an oocyte, an embryo, a blastomere, an inner cell mass cell, or a morulae cell.