261 LABELING SEX-SPECIFIC DNA SEQUENCES IN MAMMALIAN SPERM

Abstract

While flow cytometric separation of X- andY-chromosome- bearing sperm has advanced to the point of acceptance in the commercial production of sex-preselected cattle, it is important to continue researching this area to improve efficiencies. For example, the difference in DNA sequence between the X- andY-chromosomes has merit as a foundation for an alternative sperm sexing approach that could enable the complete separation and use of an entire ejaculate. We used synthetic DNA mimics conjugated to a fluorescent dye for in situ detection of Y-chromosomes in metaphase preparations of porcine somatic cells and spermatozoa. Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are synthetic compounds with higher affinity and stability than conventional DNA probes and are used as specific hybridization probes to complementary DNA. The application of PNA probes was demonstrated previously in telomere analysis studies, and we confirmed their efficacy using a CY3-(CCCTAA)3 PNA to probe bull and boar sperm telomeric sequences. Using male porcine somatic cells and theY-chromosome as a template, we arranged for the synthesis of a CY3-conjugated PNA to bind 13-15 base pairs of unique, Y-chromosome sequence. By testing different labeling conditions, we found that brief incubation of metaphase chromosomes with the PNA produced a localized signal on theY-chromosome. No signals were present when chromosomes of porcine female somatic cells were incubated with the PNA probes. Because chromosomes occupy non-random territories in all cell nuclei including those in sperm, we expected to find centrally located signals in 50% of fixed boar sperm when these were treated with the same PNA as used for the somatic cells. We found the signals present in 161 of 302 (53.3%) sperm to consist of a single, centrally located, round fluorescent dot in the sperm head. Further research is required to establish the uptake of PNA in live sperm toward evaluation of this approach for sperm sexing.