The History and Prospects of Rabbit Sperm Sexing

Abstract

Sperm sex selection is a longstanding challenge in the field of animal reproduction. The cuniculture industry, in particular producers of males or females for breeding purposes, would greatly benefit from the pre-selection of the offspring’s sex. This review article overviews the current and future developments in rabbit sperm sexing technologies, as well as the implications of implementing these methodologies in cuniculture. The first attempts of sperm sexing were performed in rabbits; however, a both efficient and cost-effective methodology was not yet developed for this species. Those included sperm sexing according to differences in sperm density, surface electric charge, pH susceptibility, antisera reaction, and flow cytometry. Separation by flow cytometry has proven to be efficient in rabbits, yielding fractions with approximately 81% and 86% purity for X- and Y-sperm, respectively. However, it is not cost-effective for cuniculture and decreases sperm quality. The advantages, limitations, and practical considerations of each method are presented, highlighting their applicability and efficiency. Furthermore, herein we explore the potential of immunological-based techniques that overcome some of the limitations of earlier methods, as well as recent advancements in sperm sexing technologies in other animal models, which could be applied to rabbits. Finally, the challenges associated with the development and widespread implementation of rabbit sperm sexing technologies are addressed. By understanding the advantages and limitations of existing and emerging methods, researchers can direct their efforts towards the most promising directions, ultimately contributing to a more efficient, profitable, and sustainable cuniculture.

A systematic review on the prospects of X- and Y-sexed semen in ruminant livestock: implications for conservation, a South African perspective

“…Semen analysis is a vital aspect in the evaluation of semen used in assisted reproductive technology such as sex sorting ( 36 ). Diverse factors can affect the quality of semen in different animal species, not to mention sex-sorted semen.…”

Comparative Bioinformatic Analysis of the Proteomes of Rabbit and Human Sex Chromosomes

“…Cuniculture would also benefit from such a technique since female parents and grandparents hold considerably higher value compared to the males born from the same litter [10,11]. These bucks lack the desired traits for both reproduction and efficient meat production and, therefore, translate into financial losses for producers of breeding does.…”

“…These bucks lack the desired traits for both reproduction and efficient meat production and, therefore, translate into financial losses for producers of breeding does. However, up to the present day, no sperm sexing technique that is both sufficiently accurate and economically viable for application in cuniculture has been developed (reviewed in [11]).…”