Method of modulating fertility in animals

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a method for controlling fertility and/or modulating the maintenance of pregnancy in animals. The present invention further provides an animal model useful for screening for therapeutic agents to treat infertility, to prevent or reduce spontaneous abortion and/or as contraceptive agents in animals.

1 . A method for modulating fertility in an animal, said method comprising administering to said animal an effective amount of IL-11 or a functional derivative thereof or a homologue thereof or an effective amount of an agonist or antagonist of interaction between IL-11 and IL-11Rα.  
     
     
         2 . A method for modulating fertility in an animal, said method comprising modulating the levels of expression of the gene encoding IL-11 and/or its receptor.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2  wherein the animal is a human, primate, livestock animal, companion animal, laboratory test animal or a captive wild animal.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the animal is a female animal.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2  wherein the fertility is down-modulated by administering an effective amount of an antagonist of IL-11 and IL-11Rα interaction sufficient to induce or facilitate defective decidualization.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the fertility is up-modulated by administering IL-11 or a functional derivative or homologue thereof or an agonist of IL-11 and IL-11Rα interaction or genetic material to up-regulate expression of IL-11 or IL-11Rα.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein IL-11 or an agonist is co-administered with one or more cytokines.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the co-administering cytokine is selected from LIF, CNTF, IL-6 and OSM or functional derivatives or homologues thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A method of enhancing fertility and/or maintenance of a pregnancy in a female animal, said method comprising administering to said female animal an effective amount of IL-11 or a functional derivative or homologue thereof or an agonist thereof for a time and under conditions sufficient for a pregnancy to proceed past the early post-implantation stage.  
     
     
         10 . A method of enhancing fertility and/or maintenance of a pregnancy in a female animal, said method comprising modulating the levels of expression of the gene encoding IL-11 and/or its receptor for a time and under conditions sufficient for a pregnancy to proceed past the early post-implantation stage.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9  or  10  wherein the animal is a human, primate, livestock animal, companion animal, laboratory test animal or a captive wild animal.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the fertility is down-modulated by administering an effective amount of an antagonist of IL-11 and IL-11Rα interaction sufficient to induce or facilitate defective decidualization.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the fertility is up-modulated by administering IL-11 or a functional derivative or homologue thereof or an agonist of IL-11 and IL-11Rα interaction or genetic material to up-regulate expression of IL-11 or IL-11Rα.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein IL-11 or an agonist is co-administered with one or more cytokines.  
     
     
         15 . A method of decreasing fertility or promoting termination of a pregnancy in a female animal, said method comprising administering to said female animal an effective amount of an antagonist of IL-11 or IL-11-receptor interaction.  
     
     
         16 . A method of decreasing fertility or promoting termination of a pregnancy in a female animal, said method comprising modulating the levels of expression of the gene encoding IL-11 and/or its receptor.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15  or  16  wherein the animal is a human, primate, livestock animal, companion animal, laboratory test animal or a captive wild animal.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the fertility is down-modulated by administering an effective amount of an antagonist of IL-11 and IL-11Rα interaction sufficient to induce or facilitate defective decidualization.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the fertility is up-modulated by administering IL-11 or a functional derivative or homologue thereof or an agonist of L-11 and IL-11Rα interaction or genetic material to up-regulate expression of IL-11 or IL-11Rα.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein IL-11 or an agonist is co-administered with one or more cytokines.  
     
     
         21 . A composition for modulating fertility in an animal said composition comprising IL-11 or a functional derivative or homologue thereof or an agonist or antagonist of interaction between IL-11 and IL-11Rα and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and/or diluents.  
     
     
         22 . A composition according to  claim 21  further comprising a cytokine selected from LIF, CNTF, L-6 and OSM.  
     
     
         23 . An animal model comprising a mutation in at least one allele for IL-11 and/or IL-Rα.  
     
     
         24 . An animal model according to  claim 23  wherein the animal is a murine species.