Application of a New Convenience Gender Sorting Method for Mouse Spermatozoa to Mouse Reproductive Engineering Technology

Abstract

In this study, we attempted to apply new convenience gender sorting methods using sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene expression on Y spermatozoa to mice. Mouse spermatozoa labeled with Cy3-SRY antibody conjugate were used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In addition, spermatozoa conjugated with SRY antibody were conjugated with magnetic beads (Mag) and were pulled to the bottom of the medium. The supernatant of the medium was used for in vitro fertilization (IVF). The rate of males reproduced by ICSI using the spermatozoa conjugated with Cy3-SRY antibody was 86.1%. The female proportion reproduced by IVF using the spermatozoa separated in the supernatant after Mag-SRY antibody conjugation was 67.3%. These gender sorting methods are effective for the reproduction of transgenic mice.