Abstract
Preconceptual sex selection is still a highly debatable process whereby X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa are isolated prior to fertilization of the oocyte. Although various separation techniques are available, none can guarantee 100% accuracy. The aim of this study was to separate X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa using methods based on the viability difference between the X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa. A total of 18 experimental semen samples were used, written consent was obtained from all donors and results were analysed in a blinded fashion. Spermatozoa were exposed to different pH values (5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, and 9.5), increased temperatures (37oC, 41oC, and 45oC) and ROS level (50 µM, 750 µM, and 1,000 µM). The live and dead cell separation was done through a modified swim-up technique. Changes in the sex-chromosome ratio of samples were established by double-label fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) before and after processing. The results indicated successful enrichment of X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa upon incubation in acidic media, increased temperatures, and elevated H2O2. This study demonstrated the potential role for exploring the physiological differences between X-and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa in the development of preconceptual gender selection.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Abbreviations
- ANOVA:
-
analysis of variance
- ARTs:
-
advanced assisted reproduction techniques
- BSA:
-
bovine serum albumin
- PBS:
-
phosphate buffer saline
- LIN:
-
linearity
- PGD:
-
preimplantation genetic diagnosis
- SEM:
-
standard error of the mean
- STR:
-
straightness
- SURRG:
-
Stellenbosch University Reproductive Research Group
- VAP:
-
average path velocity
- VCL:
-
curvilinear velocity
- VSL:
-
straight line velocity
- WHO:
-
World Health Organization
References
Gray, R.H. (1991) Natural family planning and gender selection: fact or fiction? Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol., 165, 1982–1984.
Wilcox, A.J., Weinberg, C.R. and Baird, D.D. (1995) Timing of sexual intercourse in relation to ovulation. Effects on the probability of conception, survival of the pregnancy, and sex of the baby. N. Engl. J. Med., 333, 1517–1521.
Jaiyesimi, E.O. and Jaiyesimi, R.A.K. (2004) Sex selection. Sexual Health Matters, 5, 27–29.
Nie, J.B. (2011) Non-medical sex-selective abortion in China: ethical and public policy issues in the context of 40 million missing females. Br. Med. Bull., 98, 7–20.
Dawson, K. and Trounson, A. (1996) Ethics of sex selection for family balancing. Why balance families? Hum. Reprod., 11, 2577–2578.
Shettles, L.B. and Rorvik, D.M. (2006) How To Choose The Sex Of Your Baby: Fully Revised And Updated (Rev Upd edition). Broadway.
Gledhill, B.L. (1988) Selection and separation of X- and Y-chromosome-bearing mammalian sperm. Gamete Res., 20, 377–395.
Cui, K.H. (1997) Size differences between human X and Y spermatozoa and prefertilization diagnosis. Mol. Hum. Reprod., 3, 61–67.
Gledhill, B.L. and Edwards, R.G. (1993) Can spermatozoa be typed? in Preconception And Preimplantation Diagnosis Of Human Genetic Disease (Edwards, R.G. Ed.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 203–231.
Johnson, L.A. (1994) Isolation of X- and V-bearing sperm for sex preselection in Oxford Reviews of Reproductive Biology, Vol. 16 (Charlton, H.M. Ed.). Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, pp. 303–326.
Cui, K.H. and Matthews, C.D. (1993) X larger than Y. Nature, 366, 117–118.
Flaherty, S.P. and Matthews, C.D. (1996) Application of modern molecular techniques to evaluate sperm sex selection methods. Mol. Hum. Reprod., 2, 937–42.
Jeon, H.L., Yi, J.S., Kim, T.S., Oh, Y., Lee, H.J., Lee, M., Bang, J.S., Ko, K., Ahn, I.Y., Ko, K., Kim, J., Park, H.K., Lee, J.K. and Sohn, S.J. (2017) Development of a test method for the evaluation of DNA damage in mouse spermatogonial stem cells. Toxicol. Res., 33, 107–118.
Ahmad, G., Agarwal, A., Esteves, S.C., Sharma, R., Almasry, M., Al-Gonaim, A., AlHayaza, G., Singh, N., Al Kattan, L., Sannaa, W.M. and Sabanegh, E. (2017) Ascorbic acid reduces redox potential in human spermatozoa subjected to heatinduced oxidative stress. Andrologia, doi: 10.1111/and.12773 [Epub ahead of print].
Mesa, A.M., Roberson, R.L., Chun, R.I. and Mortensen, C.J. (2017) Stallion semen incubated with hydrogen peroxide decreased DNA fragmentation as measured by the TUNEL assay. J. Equine Vet. Sci., 49, 81–86.
World Health Organization (2010) WHO Laboratory Manual For The Examination And Processing Of Human Semen. World Health Organization.
Hassan, D.A. (2005) Separation Techniques for X and Y Chromosome Bearing Human Spermatozoa (Doctoral dissertation). Tshwane University of Technology.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (https://doi.org/creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
About this article
Cite this article
Oyeyipo, I.P., van der Linde, M. & du Plessis, S.S. Environmental Exposure of Sperm Sex-Chromosomes: A Gender Selection Technique. Toxicol Res. 33, 315–323 (2017). https://doi.org/10.5487/TR.2017.33.4.315
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5487/TR.2017.33.4.315