Immortalized epididymal cell lines, useful e.g. for identifying agents that modify male fertility and for assessing promoter activity

摘要

Immortalized cell line (A) of epididymal origin produced by immortalizing primary cultures of mammalian epididymal cells. Independent claims are also included for: (1) preparing (M1) (A); (2) screening (M2) for agents (I) that increase or inhibit male fertility, using (A); (3) determining (M3) the toxicity of active agents, using (A); (4) preparing (M4) an active agent by synthesis or recombinant production of (I) identified by M2 and M3; and in vitro analysis (M5) of the activity of a promoter in which a gene, under control of the promoter, is expressed in (A).