Abstract: A method is provided for rapidly determining the ability of sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction, using fluorescence microscopy, light microscopy or color change on a dot blot assay to determine the relative percentage of acrosome reacted sperm. Sperm are capacitated through use of bromelain or other enzymatic substances capable of capacitating sperm, with the total incubation time required to induce capacitation as little as fifteen minutes, yielding sperm that are fully capacitated and show excellent motility, with as many as 80% of normal sperm consistently induced to acrosome react.

Abstract: A monoclonal or polyclonal antibody having a specific binding property to an antigenic site on the human sperm acrosome, which is produced by a hybridoma obtained by fusion between an antibody-producing mammalian (except human) cell immunized with the antigenic site on the human sperm acrosome and a cell having permanent proliferation potency.

Abstract: A protein having a molecular weight of from about 10,000 to 18,000 daltons, isoelectric points of from about pH 4.0 to 6.5 and having the reversible biological effect of inhibiting aromatase activity in a biological system, and antibodies to the protein, modulate follicular development and spermatogenesis and provide for diagnostic tests of gonadel functions.

Abstract: The potential fertility of a semen sample is evaluated using a kit comprising a collection tube with volume gradients on its side; a funnel which is fitted into the collection tube for guiding an ejaculate into the collection tube; a pipet containing a standard aqueous solution of the dye resazurin stored therein for metering a predetermined amount of the solution into the collection tube; an insulating sleeve for surrounding a glass containing hot water and the collection tube and for maintaining the water at an elevated temperature for a predetermined period of time, and a color chart ranging in color from the color of the semen sample and dye solution mixture immediately after mixing to the color of a corresponding mixture of the dye solution and a highly fertile semen sample, after being maintained at the same elevated temperature for the same period of time.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the fertility of a male mammal. A semen sample is obtained from the individual to be tested. The sperm is separated from the seminal plasma of the semen sample. At least one test portion and a control portion of the sperm are isolated. The sperm portions are incubated, the test portion being exposed to a glycosaminoglycan in a concentration effective to induce an acrosome reaction in sperm. A representative sample of incubated sperm from each portion is then counted by means of observation by light microscopy to measure the increase in acrosome reaction in the test portions as compared to the control portion. A kit is provided for the convenient performance of the method. The kit includes a supply of sterile liquid culture medium, sterile closable culture vessels, and a supply of selected, sterile GAG meterable substantially aseptically in known amounts into each culture vessel used as a test vessel.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the fertility of a test male mammal relative to the fertility of a control male mammal. The method includes the steps of collecting samples of semen from the test male and the control male. The binding affinity of a selected glycosaminoglycan to the sperm of the semen samples is measured by a selected means for measuring binding affinities. The fertility of the test male may be evaluated as higher or lower than that of the control male by the degree to which the binding affinity of the glycosaminoglycan to its sperm is higher or lower than the binding affinity of the glycosaminoglycan to the sperm of the control male.

Abstract: An enzyme assay reagent comprises a substance which is capable of interaction with the enzyme to give rise to the formation of a compound of formula X--A--Y--NO.sub.2, wherein A comprises an aromatic nucleus, X comprises an auxochromic group and Y comprises an unsaturated group which is capable of transmitting electron resonance between the aromatic nucleus and the nitro substituent, said compound per se being capable of producing a visual signal which is easily discernible by eye.

Abstract: A method for monitoring pregnancy in a milk-producing domestic animal comprises determining the concentration of oestrogen conjugates, especially oestrone sulphate, contained in a sample comprising, or derived from, the milk of the animal and comparing this concentration with the average concentration of oestrogen conjugates in the milk of a non-pregnant similar animal of the same species. There is also provided a method for monitoring foetal well-being during the later stages of pregnancy which comprises, in addition, comparing the measured oestrogen conjugate concentration with that expected during a normal pregnancy.