Sex selection techniques and their implications

Abstract

Sex selection techniques provide economic benefits to dairy and beef herd management. Therefore, the development of such techniques has attracted the attention of reproductive biologists. There have been numerous studies concerning the development of sex selection techniques. As the sex of the offspring is determined by certain chromosomes, namely the X and Y chromosomes in mammals, most studies have focused on sperm sexing, attempting to separate the X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm based on differences in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content, head size/volume, motility, and immunological specificity. However, most of these methods have failed to show reproducibility. Only the flow cytometric method has been confirmed to be accurate and reliable thus far. More than three decades have passed since this technique was first developed. The sexed semen produced with the method is currently commercialized and widely used for artificial insemination (AI) in cattle around the world. Recently, however, another technique based on differences in DNA contents using a fluidics device was developed by a commercial company. Studies focused on immunological approaches and the modification of sperm motility have also described the successful separation of the two types of sperm. Therefore, the present review evaluated the available sex selection techniques and their implications.

Effect of Rabbit Semen Filtration Methods on Conception Rates and Altering Sex Ratio in Artificially Inseminated Rabbits

“…While Albumin filter sperm fraction one had higher motility than values in sperm fractions two, three and control samples, respectively. The percentage of rabbit's X chromosome bearing spermatozoa determined by Hoechst stain before and after filtrations are presented in Figure (3). The analysis of variance showed significant differences (P≤0.05) due to the treatments and their interactions in percentage of X chromosome bearing spermatozoa.…”

“…These results are similar with that recorded by Galarza et al (2018), who reported that Sephadex filtration enriched the Y chromosome in ram semen. Also, Naniwa and Uchiyama (2021) reported that Albumin gradient increased ratio of the Y chromosome in cattle semen. An effective method of sex preselection is required depending on the small difference in DNA content that exists between X-and Ychromosome bearing sperm.…”

Pregnancy and calving rate of artificial insemination with sexed semen in swamp buffaloes under field conditions

“…A flow cytometer is commonly used in separating spermatozoa, with a success rate of more than 90% of calves born with expected sex. Flow cytometry method procedure: sperm containing the X chromosome and sperm containing the Y chromosome are stained with fluorescence, separated from each other by analyzing differences in DNA content, and frozen [5].…”