Separation of ram spermatozoa bearing X and Y chromosome by centrifugal countercurrent distribution in an aqueous two-phase system

J Androl. 2000 Nov-Dec;21(6):921-8.

Abstract

The availability of reliable quantification techniques of X and Y chromosome-bearing spermatozoa in a given insemination dose would allow further approaches to their separation, which is a topic of unquestionable interest in animal production. The aim of the current work was the development of a combined approach of polymerase chain reaction and countercurrent distribution to address both objectives. First, using Sac/polymorphisms for ZFX/ZFYloci in sheep deoxyribonucleic acid, a linear correlation has been established between the densitometric quantification of the restricted fragment length polymorphisms corresponding to the amplified loci ZFX/ZFY by polymerase chain reaction and the theoretical proportions of X and Y chromosomes in standard solutions. The method, subsequently applied to semen samples, estimated an equal proportion of spermatozoa bearing each chromosome. Second, by using centrifugal countercurrent distribution in a sensitive-charge aqueous two-phase system, we achieved the separation of a sperm population enriched in Y chromosome-bearing ram spermatozoa (75%) with a high viability rate (57%).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Separation / methods*
  • Cell Survival
  • Countercurrent Distribution / methods
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / isolation & purification
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific
  • Female
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Sex Determination Processes
  • Sheep
  • Spermatozoa / cytology*
  • Transcription Factors
  • X Chromosome*
  • Y Chromosome*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors
  • zinc finger protein, X-linked
  • DNA
  • endodeoxyribonuclease SacI
  • Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AJ000269
  • GENBANK/AJ000270