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Sex Determination of Bovine Embryos Using H-Y Antibodies

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 30, pages 155–164 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

6 days old bovine embryos (n = 126) were obtained from 8 superovulated cows or heifers by flushing the uteri and oviducts either non-surgially or after slaughter. Part of the embryos (n = 72) (morula stages) were placed in Ham’s F-10 or PBS supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) diluted 1:1 with supernatant from the H-Y antibody producing clone and cultured at 38°C, in 5 % CO2/95 % air and 100 % humidity. Control embryos (n = 54) were cultured in H-Y antibody free medium.

After culture the embryos could be separated into a blastocyst- and a morula group. A subsequent colchemid and hypotonic treatment and fixation and Giemsa staining allowed a precise karyotyping, and thus sex determination for 36 H-Y antibody treated embryos and 22 control embryos. The limiting factor for proper karyotyping was lack of metaphases, incomplete methaphases or poor preparation. Among the H-Y antibody treated embryos we found 7 males and 15 females in the blastocyst and 14 males and 0 females in the morula group. A statistical analysis of these proportions led to the conclusion that the H-Y antibody had a significant influence on the sex ratio.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Ms. I. Heinze for valuable technical assistance and to Ms. P. Hoffmann for typing the manuscript. This project was funded by The Danish Agricultural and Veterinary Research Council.

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  1. Department of Reproduction, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Biilowsvej 13, DK-1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Birthe Avery & Mette Schmidt

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  1. Birthe Avery
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  2. Mette Schmidt
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Avery, B., Schmidt, M. Sex Determination of Bovine Embryos Using H-Y Antibodies. Acta Vet Scand 30, 155–164 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548052

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147