Sex preselection in rabbits: live births from X and Y sperm separated by DNA and cell sorting.
Intact, viable X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm populations of the rabbit were separated according to DNA content with a flow cytometer/cell sorter. Reanalysis for DNA of an aliquot from each sorted population showed purities of 86% for X-bearing sperm and 81% for Y-bearing sperm populations. Sorted sperm were surgically inseminated into the uterus of rabbits. From does inseminated with sorted X-bearing sperm, 94% of the offspring born were females. From does inseminated with sorted Y-bearing sperm from the same ejaculates, 81% of the offspring were males. The probability of the phenotypic sex ratios differing from 50:50 were p less than 0.0003 for X-sorted sperm and p less than 0.004 for Y-sorted sperm. Thus, the phenotypic sex ratio at birth was accurately predicted from the flow-cytometrically measured proportion of X- and Y-bearing sperm used for insemination.
Johnson
L A
LA
Reproduction Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maryland 20705.
Flook
J P
JP
Hawk
H W
HW
D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits / Q000502:physiology*; D012743:Sex Preselection / Q000662:veterinary*; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000032:analysis*; D014960:X Chromosome; D014998:Y Chromosome
D004247:DNA