title: Detection of histocompatibility-Y antigen: identification of sex of pre-implantation ovine embryos.
abstract: Indirect immunofluorescence was used to detect the presence of a male-specific protein (H-Y antigen) on pre-implantation ovine embryos. Eight-cell to blastocyst stage embryos were surgically collected from superovulated ewes, classified as fluorescent (H-Y positive) or non-fluorescent (H-Y negative) and either transferred to recipient ewes or karyotyped to confirm embryonic sex. H-Y antigen was detected on eight-cell through blastocyst stage embryos. Overall, 88% (50/57) of the embryos (eight-cell to early blastocyst stage) classified as H-Y positive or H-Y negative were male and female, respectively. Survival after transfer of embryos subjected to the H-Y antigen assay was high (63%), which supports the use of this procedure in conjunction with embryo transfer in sheep to produce pregnancies in which sex of the fetus is known.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Pashen
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: BonDurant
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006182:H-Y Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006182:H-Y Antigen; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens