Wildlife is an integral part of our ecological environment. Efforts to restore watersheds, wetlands, prairie lands, and other depleted environments should go hand-in-hand with efforts to re-populate endangered species. Dr. Gary Klinefelter, a senior researcher from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, has discovered a technique that holds great promise in addressing species re-population. Dr. Klinefelter discovered a strong correlation between the level of SP-22 protein present on sperm in a given sample and the fertility of the male. Battelle’s Environmental Technology Commercialization Center (ETC2) is seeking partners to carry out research with various animal species using the SP-22 fertility diagnostic technique. In the past, Dr. Klinefelter’s research focused on exposure to chemicals in the environment and its effects on sperm quality in the human male over the past several decades. As a result of new discoveries in this research, Dr. Klinefelter’s work now concentrates on the potential for utilizing this technique in efforts aimed at re-populating endangered and exotic animal species. Since the SP-22 protein is well conserved across species, this protein has the unique potential to predict fertility across various animal species. Used in conjunction with artificial insemination and fertility tests, the SP-22 protein detection method will assist in identifying the most fertile males. In addition to the obvious potential applications among livestock populations, this technique can be used to assist in the re-population of numerous endangered species, including mammals, birds, and reptiles. Successful application of this technique has the potential to reduce costs and failure rates when attempting to re-populate a particular species. ETC2 is also assessing the potential for commercializing this technique in the pharmaceutical and animal fertility industries. The SP-22 protein fertility diagnostic technique is just one example of U.S. EPA-developed technologies available for commercialization. For further information please contact Cynthia Gravino at gravinoc@battelle.org or visit ETC2’s web site at www.etc2.org. 
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Fertility Detection Technology May be Key to Repopulating Endangered Species
