Flow cytometric separation of X- and Y-chromosome bearing bovine sperm is an accepted technology for use at the commercial level. Nevertheless it is important to continue researching the area of gender-preselected sperm for improved efficiencies. We used a synthetic DNA mimic conjugated to a fluorescent dye for in situ detection of Y chromosomes in metaphase preparations of bovine somatic cells and spermatozoa. Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are a type of DNA mimic having a higher affinity and stability than conventional DNA probes and are used as hybridization probes to complementary DNA. Using male bovine somatic cells and the Y-chromosome as a template, we arranged for the synthesis of a CY3-conjugated PNA to bind 13 to 15 base pairs of unique, Y-chromosome sequence. By testing different labeling conditions, we found that brief incubation (~1 h) of metaphase chromosomes with the PNA produced a localized signal on the Y-chromosome. No signals were observed when chromosomes of female bovine somatic cells were incubated with the same PNA probe. Because chromosomes occupy non-random territories in all cell nuclei, including sperm, we proposed to find centrally-located signals in 50% of fixed bovine sperm when treated with the same PNA as used for the somatic cells. As expected, we found the PNA signals present in 50% sperm (23/43) existing as a single, centrally-located, round fluorescent dot in the sperm head. Validation studies were also conducted using bovine sperm previously flow sorted into X or Y populations, and we found the signals in accordance to an expected signal present using the PNA (146/165 or 88.5% with PNA signal in presorted Y sperm heads and 13/174 or 7.5% with PNA signal in presorted X sperm heads).
Nanoscale Differences in the Shape and Size of X and Y Chromosome-Bearing Bovine Sperm Heads Assessed by Atomic Force Microscopy
