R J van Kooij1, B A van Oost. 1. Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sex selection of spermatozoa. DESIGN: A deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe (pDP34) detecting distinguishable loci on both X and Y chromosome was used to validate the quinacrine-staining method that is often used for determination of the percentage of Y-bearing sperm. Sperm samples were centrifuged over Percoll to obtain samples with a high X:Y ratio according to the quinacrine-staining method. Controls (sperms before processing over Percoll) and processed sperms were subjected to DNA extraction and analysis with the DNA probe. RESULTS: The DNA analysis revealed a 1.0 X:Y ratio of the spermatozoa before and after Percoll separation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the quinacrine method is not suitable for evaluation of methods that claim to separate X and Y-bearing sperm.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sex selection of spermatozoa. DESIGN: A deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe (pDP34) detecting distinguishable loci on both X and Y chromosome was used to validate the quinacrine-staining method that is often used for determination of the percentage of Y-bearing sperm. Sperm samples were centrifuged over Percoll to obtain samples with a high X:Y ratio according to the quinacrine-staining method. Controls (sperms before processing over Percoll) and processed sperms were subjected to DNA extraction and analysis with the DNA probe. RESULTS: The DNA analysis revealed a 1.0 X:Y ratio of the spermatozoa before and after Percoll separation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the quinacrine method is not suitable for evaluation of methods that claim to separate X and Y-bearing sperm.