Determination of sex ratio of spermatozoa with a deoxyribonucleic acid-probe and quinacrine staining: a comparison.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sex selection of spermatozoa.


METHODS
A deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe (pDP34) detecting distinguishable loci on both X and Y chromosome was used to validate the quinacrine-staining method that is often used for determination of the percentage of Y-bearing sperm. Sperm samples were centrifuged over Percoll to obtain samples with a high X:Y ratio according to the quinacrine-staining method. Controls (sperms before processing over Percoll) and processed sperms were subjected to DNA extraction and analysis with the DNA probe.


RESULTS
The DNA analysis revealed a 1.0 X:Y ratio of the spermatozoa before and after Percoll separation.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the quinacrine method is not suitable for evaluation of methods that claim to separate X and Y-bearing sperm.
van Kooij
R J
RJ
Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Oost
B A
BA
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D015342:DNA Probes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011796:Quinacrine; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014960:X Chromosome; D014998:Y Chromosome
D015342:DNA Probes; D011796:Quinacrine