In vitro production of sex preselected cattle embryos using a monoclonal antibody raised against bull sperm epitopes

• Published in: Animal reproduction science Vol. 205; pp. 156 - 164
• Main Authors: Chowdhury, M.M.R., Lianguang, Xu, Kong, Rami, Park, Bun-Young, Mesalam, Ayman, Joo, Myeong-Don, Afrin, Fahmida, Jin, Jong-In, Lim, Hyun-Tae, Kong, Il-Keun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.06.2019
• Subjects: Genetic up-gradation; IVEP; Sorted sperm; WholeMom; Sorted sperm; IVEP; Genetic up-gradation; WholeMom
• ISSN: 0378-4320; 1873-2232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.11.006

Sex preselection has always generated great interest among livestock producers. Among the prevalent sperm sorting methods, there is much evidence that sex sorting has a negative effect on sperm quality with an altered pattern of sperm motility, ultimately reducing the period of cell viability. In this study, we have established a new approach for the preselected embryo production by using WholeMom®; a monoclonal antibody developed against bull sperm epitopes for simple and easy separation of X- and Y-sperm. There were no significant differences (P >  0.05) in the percentage of presumptive zygotes between the control and the X-sperm sorted group, but there was a difference in early cleaving embryos with there being 81.2 ± 1.4%, 78.3 ± 1.0%, and 66.7 ± 1.1% for the control, X-sperm sorted, and Y-sperm sorted groups, respectively. Similarly, the percentage of embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage (Day 7) were also greater (P <  0.05) in the control and X-sperm sorted group compared with the Y-sperm sorted group being 34.8 ± 1.0%, 32.1 ± 0.8%, and 23.7 ± 1.0% in the control, X-sperm sorted, and Y-sperm sorted groups, respectively. Furthermore, B-SRY F2 and B-SRY R2 gene expression data indicated there was a detection accuracy of 81.0% for the female embryos and 72.5% for the male embryos produced in vitro. In conclusion, in cattle in vitro derived embryo production using pre-selected sexed semen and subsequent embryo transfer can facilitate the mass production of individuals that are genetically superior.