Sexing sperm of domestic animals

Abstract

The ability to preselect or predetermine the sex of offspring prior to conception is a highly desired technological tool for assisted female breeding programs specifically for milk production, and in males, for meat production and increasing livestock numbers. The current technology is based on the well-known differences in X- and Y-sperm in the amount of DNA. The technology uses modified flow cytometric instrumentation for sorting X- and Y-bearing sperm. The method can be validated on the basis of live births, laboratory reanalysis of sorted sperm for DNA content, and embryo biopsy for sex determination. Currently, the sex of animals has been predetermined with 90 % accuracy by sexing spermatozoa. In the bovine breeding industry, flow cytometric sperm sexing has not fulfilled its original promise. Sexed sperm doses are too expensive for widespread application while the fertility of sexed sperm doses is lower than unsexed ones. Essentially all bovine sexed semen is frozen and then applied through artificial insemination (AI) or in vitro fertilization. There is still a need in the animal breeding industry to develop a technique for sperm sexing that provides sufficient spermatozoa for AI doses, does not compromise sperm fertility, and is widely applicable to a range of species. In this review, we will summarize the current state-of-the-art in sex preselection in domestic animals and some wildlife species using flow cytometric sperm-sorting of X from Y sperm based on DNA differences.

The Relationship between Sperm Oxidative Stress Alterations and IVF/ICSI Outcomes: A Systematic Review from Nonhuman Mammals

“…In animals, assisted reproduction technologies, such as artificial insemination, is widespread in pigs, cattle, sheep and horses [31][32][33]. In contrast, IVF and ICSI are not usually performed, but are utilized for research or other specific purposes, such as embryo production, sex selection and genetic selection [34][35][36]. In research, the induction of DNA damage to healthy biological samples and the homogeneity of sperm and oocyte samples make it possible to design more homogeneous studies than those performed in infertile humans [19,37,38].…”

Current status, scope and constraints of sexed semen - An Indian perspective

“…The predetermining the sex has valuable impact on livestock industry because of its economic gains. Females are essential for milk production and the production of calves, while males are usually required for meat production because of the better feed conversion efficiency and lean-to-fat ratio (Espinosa-Cervantes and Córdova-Izquierdo, 2012). In addition, males of high genetic merit are still required as sires in artificial insemination programs.…”

Effect of microfluidic processing on the viability of boar and bull spermatozoa

“…In the veterinary industry, flow cytometry is used to sort spermatozoa to obtain sex selected semen. 35 Therefore, the cells must be viable after being sorted by flow cytometry. The normalized spermatozoa viability after flow cytometry reported in the literature is 89 ± 3% 36 and 80 ± 3% 37 (for boar and bull, respectively).…”