Validating bovine sexed semen samples using quantitative PCR

SummaryIn cattle, separation of X‐ and Y‐bearing sperm cells by flow‐sorting technology makes it possible to predetermine the sex of calves. Due to high costs and decrease in fertilization, the extensive use of sexed semen in livestock depends heavily on sorting purity of sperm cells. Validating the accuracy of sperm sexing requires reliable procedures, therefore a real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was established to calculate the male cell proportion in the sexed semen based on the relationship between the amplification of a SRY fragment and an autosomal gene (MSHR) fragment. Our results showed stable amplification of SRY for 100–1 ng of genomic DNA, which allows detection of 1% of male cells if 100 ng of target DNA is used. To account for the discrepancy in the efficiency of the MSHR and the SRY amplification correction of the difference of the mean values was performed. The ratio of male to female sperm cells in unsexed semen cells was very accurately determined. The fractions of the sexed samples, however, were different from the expected range appearing lower than estimated. Thus, the study reveals that real‐time PCR provides a good basis for the examination of sexed sperm cells, but needs to be optimized for the samples.

Validating bovine sexed semen samples using quantitative PCR Journal Articles