流式细胞仪分离精子法的研究进展

以X精子和Y精子的DNA含量差别为基础的流式细胞仪分离精子技术是有效的哺乳动物性别控制方法。目前,流式细胞仪分离精子的速度与上世纪90年代初期相比已提高了30多倍,以3000个/秒的常规速度分离X精子或Y精子的准确率可达到85%～90%。迄今,用分离精子人工授精已产下了数万头的动物后代,而分离人的精子也开始应用到了避免X染色体连锁遗传疾病的生殖医学工程中。     

精子介导法生产转基因牦牛杂种胚胎的研究

研究外源DNA转染对牦牛精子体外受精(IVF)、早期胚胎发育以及绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)基因在早期胚胎表达的影响。用构建融合人乳铁蛋白基因绿色荧光蛋白表达载体(pAcGFP1-hLF)转染的牦牛精子IVF黄牛卵母细胞,生产的胚胎在荧光显微镜下观察GFP表达情况。结果显示,用环形质粒、线性质粒pAcGFP1-hLF转染的精子及未转染精子IVF后的卵裂率分别为56.4%、54.8%和61.0%,线性转染的囊胚率显著低于环形转染(17.7%与35.7%)。环形质粒转染的精子用DNaseⅠ消化、不消化及未转染的精子IVF后卵裂率分别为44.8%、55.2%和56.3%,囊胚率分别为33.3%、33.3%和30.2%。未经DNaseⅠ消化洗涤的环形质粒组GFP胚胎阳性率显著高于线性质粒组(99.3%与76.6%);DNaseⅠ消化组GFP胚胎阳性率极显著低于不消化组(25.4%与99.3%)。结果表明,用环形质粒DNA转染牦牛精子不会影响其受精及早期胚胎发育能力,但DNaseⅠ消化洗涤显著降低GFP胚胎阳性率。     

不同品系小鼠的体外受精、胚胎冷冻及移植的比较研究

目的　探讨不同品系小鼠的体外受精、胚胎和精子的低温保存效果。方法　本实验分别在中国科学院上海实验动物中心 (SLAC)和日本熊本大学动物资源开发中心 (CARD)对 13个品系小鼠 (C57BL 6J、BALB c、C3H HeJ、ICR、KM、FVB、MRL、NOD、CBA、DBA 2、CD 1、BDF1、B6C3F1)的体外受精 (IVF)率、胚胎培养及移植成绩进行了比较研究。结果　各品系小鼠新鲜精子的IVF率 15 1%～ 87 9% ,冻融精子的IVF率 8%～ 80 % ;冷冻胚胎的复苏率4 2 6 %～ 83 9% ;冻融胚胎移植后的产仔率在 17 8%～ 5 1 8%。结论　遗传背景不同的小鼠体外受精率、冷冻胚胎复苏率和胚胎移植的产仔率差异有显著性。但同一品系两个实验室间的新鲜精子的IVF率、冷冻胚胎的复苏率及移植产仔率差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;冻融精子的体外受精率CARD明显高于SLAC(P <0 0 1)。     

昆明小鼠精子冷冻的研究(简报)

胚胎工程技术是动物品种、品系培育,种质资源保存及转基因动物制备、保种的重要手段。配子的冷冻保存技术目前广泛应用于胚胎工程。和胚胎冷冻相比小鼠精子冷冻技术方便、高效尤其适用于转基因及突变系小鼠的保种。成功的精子冷冻要求复苏后通过体外受精(IVF)获得胚胎,再移植入受体,生长发育并产出幼仔。胚胎体外培养获得足够的晚桑葚胚和早期囊胚是胚胎干细胞建立与制备嵌合体小鼠的成功关键,暂时不用的胚胎应仍能耐受冷冻保存,待复苏移植,建立新的繁殖群。但小鼠精子冷冻研究在我国开展的十分有限,缺乏相关资料数据。本实验对不同周龄SPF级昆明(KM)小鼠进行精子冷冻及冻融精子IVF,并将IVF获得的2-细胞胚胎分别进行胚胎移植、体外培养、胚胎冷冻及复苏后移植,应用冻融小鼠精子进行胚胎工程实践。     

流式细胞仪原理及其在奶牛性别控制上的应用

流式细胞仪分离得到的定性奶牛精子,借助人工授精技术或其他相关技术已经生产出许多预知性别的后代奶牛。流式细胞仪分离精子的原理是基于携带有X或Y性染色体精子的DNA含量不同。高性能的流式细胞仪可以达到每小时分离1.5～2×108个精子,并且准确率可达到90%。该项技术的应用使得奶牛的人工授精和低温保存技术更为便利,并且该项技术也可以用于其他养殖动物X、Y精子的分离。     

用三色荧光原位杂交(Three-Color FISH)检测小鼠精子中染色体数目异常的研究

用小鼠X、Y和8号染色体特异的DNA探针,与经DTT（dithiotreitol）和LIS（lithium-3,5-diiodosalicylicacid）解聚的小鼠附单精子进行三色荧光原位杂交（fluoresceoceinsituhybridization,FISH）,以检测精子中的染色体数目异常,并与MMⅡ染色体分析比较．结果表明精子三色FISH具有以下优点和特点：（1）方法敏感稳定,且简便快速;（2）在每一个体至少分析10000尾精子的基础上计算非整倍体单,因此结果更为准确;（3）能检测多倍体即减数分裂停止的发生率及停止的时期;（4）不仅能测定发生于试数分裂Ⅰ（MI）的染色体分离异常,还能检测发生于减数分裂Ⅱ（MII）的不分离和丢失．并对探针的选用、分析标准的建立以及三色FISH用于精于染色体分析的必要性等进行了讨论．     

无血清无饲养层培养体系在绵羊胚胎干细胞分离中的应用

目的：本文采用N2B27无血清无饲养层的完全已知成份的培养体系,通过机械分离法分离不同阶段的绵羊囊胚,观察不同阶段囊胚对分离绵羊类胚胎干细胞的影响。方法：本实验采用N2B27无血清无饲养层成份完全已知的培养体系,利用机械分离法对不同阶段的绵羊囊胚进行分离,观察其绵羊类胚胎干细胞的原代集落形成率,以及AKP 染色,多潜能性候选基因Oct-4 和Sox-2 免疫荧光检测。结果：分离早期阶段绵羊囊胚获得的绵羊类胚胎干细胞的形成率显著低于扩张（孵化）阶段囊胚（19.6%（11/56） vs 36.9%（31/84））（P ＜ 0.05）,同时早期和扩张（孵化）阶段绵羊囊胚的AKP 染色和多潜能性候选基因Oct-4、Sox-2 的表达呈阳性。结论：N2B27无血清无饲养层培养体系是一种有效分离绵羊类胚胎干细胞的培养基,同时分离绵羊扩张（孵化）阶段的囊胚可以显著的提高原代类胚胎干细胞的建系率,为提高绵羊类胚胎干细胞的建系奠定了基础。     

男性不育与Y染色体

目的:观察精子数目异常与小Y染色体及内分泌性腺激素水平。方法:对262名少精及无精症患者检测染色体,并对其中11例小Y染色体及随机抽取的15例Y染色体正常的患者运用磁性分离酶免疫测定法分别检测性腺激素。结果:小Y染色体检出率为4.19%(11/262),其内分泌性腺激素均呈高卵泡刺激素、高黄体生成素和低睾酮水平,与Y染色体正常的无精及少精症患者相比较,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。而小Y染色体不同精子数组各内分泌性腺激素比较,差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论:精子数目异常可能与小Y染色体有关,小Y染色体基因改变可能是导致其内分泌性腺激素的变化因素。     

两种方法检测胚胎小鼠内皮型一氧化氮合酶结果的相关性分析

本实验同时应用免疫印迹法及流式细胞仪法对胚胎小鼠肾脏内皮型一氧化氮合酶（eNOS）的蛋白含量进行检测,旨在探讨两种方法检测结果之间是否有相关性。     

苯甲基磺酰氟（PMSF）在犬精子4℃保存中的作用

目的探讨4℃保存的条件下,苯甲基磺酰氟（phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride,PMSF）对犬精子的保护作用。方法犬精子以含不同浓度PMSF的Tris-卵黄液（Tris-egg yolk,EYT）处理后,于4℃低温保存,在24、48、72、96 h分别以伊红、瑞-吉和吖啶橙染色检测精子活率、顶体膜和DNA完整性。结果低温保存24 h后,吖啶橙染色检测DNA断裂率（%）：对照组（5.93±0.32）,实验组：20μg/mL（4.50±0.38）、40μg/mL（4.20±0.25）、80μg/mL（4.21±0.46）、160μg/mL（3.87±0.67）,P〈0.05;各浓度组之间没有明显差异;72 h后,犬精子活率仍〉30%;96 h内,对照组和实验组犬精子在活率、顶体膜完整性上未见明显差异。结论PMSF于4℃低温保存条件下对犬精子具有保护作用,24 h内能有效保护精子DNA双链的完整性,4℃低温保存72 h后,犬精子仍符合人工授精要求。     

In vitro and in vivo quality of bovine embryos in vitro produced with sex-sorted sperm

In this work we analyzed the effects of three culture systems on developmental ability of bovine embryos in vitro produced with sexed sperm, the survival to vitrification (cryologic vitrification method) of such blastocysts, and their pregnancy rates after embryo transfer to recipients, both as fresh and after vitrification/warming. Finally, we measured the accuracy of the sorting protocol by a polymerase chain reaction-based method to validate the embryo sex at blastocyst stages. We confirmed an individual effect of the bull as well as development rates of embryos produced with sorted sperm lower than embryos with unsorted sperm, independent of the culture system used. The cryoresistance to vitrification of embryos produced with sexed sperm did not differ from that of conventionally produced embryos (re-expansion rates at 24 and 48 h: 74.6% vs. 75.5%, and 64.5% vs. 68.1% for embryos produced with conventional and sorted sperm, respectively; hatching rates at 48 h: 63.55% vs. 55.5% for embryos produced with conventional and sorted sperm, respectively). Finally, no significant differences were found in pregnancy rates after the embryo transfer of fresh and vitrified/warmed blastocysts (52.8% vs. 42.0%, respectively; P > 0.05). Male and female embryos produced with sorted sperm showed the same quality in terms of developmental ability, cryoresistance, and pregnancy rates after transfer. Our culture system, coupled with the vitrification in fiber plugs, provides good quality sex-known embryos which survive vitrification at similar rates than embryos produced with conventional unsorted sperm; also it produces good pregnancy rates after transfer of sexed embryos both fresh and after vitrification and warming.     

Incidence of chromosome aberrations in mammalian sperm stained with Hoechst 33342 and UV-laser irradiated during flow sorting

The separation of two sperm populations is possible using the technique of flow sorting, provided that a significant difference exists in the DNA content of X- and Y-bearing sperm. In order to ascertain whether or not chromosome damage was induced in sorted sperm, chromosome preparations were made from isolated sperm that had been microinjected into hamster eggs. While egg chromosomes exhibited a low frequency of chromosome aberrations, ranging from 4 to 7%, a large proportion of sperm cells exhibited chromosome damage. Between 29% of unstained and unsorted sperm and 38% of stained and unsorted sperm exhibited some type of chromosomal abnormality and this proportion increased to 50% in sorted sperm. If only damaged sperm nuclei are considered, the two unsorted sperm groups had a mean of 0.6 breaks, 0.8 triradial exchanges, and 0.2 quadriradial exchanges per nucleus. However, sorted sperm, which were stained with a fluorochrome and exposed to UV-laser irradiation, exhibited a mean of 2.9 breaks, 2.6 triradial, and 1.9 quadriradial exchanges per nucleus in which damage occurred. These observations indicate that the treatments and manipulations to which sperm nuclei are subjected during flow sorting cause chromosomal aberrations, and that exposure of the cells to UV-laser irradiation contributes substantially to the chromosome damage observed.     

Development of bovine embryos after in vitro fertilization of oocytes with flow cytometrically sorted, stained and unsorted sperm from different bulls

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of staining bovine sperm, with or without flow cytometry, on in vitro fertilization of bovine oocytes and blastocyst development. Bovine oocytes (n=4273) were fertilized with frozen–thawed sperm from three bulls that was: stained with Hoechst 33342 and sorted (into X- or Y-chromosome-bearing sperm) with flow cytometry; stained but not sorted; and not stained or sorted (Control). Oocytes, aspirated from slaughterhouse ovaries, were matured in TCM199 (supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and 15 ng FSH, 1.0 μg LH, 1.0 μg E2/ml) for 22–24 h at 39 °C in 5% CO₂ in air with maximum humidity. Presumptive zygotes were removed from culture and placed in chemically defined medium (CDM-1) 6–7 h after insemination and cultured for 65–66 h. Embryos that had cleaved by 72 h post-insemination were cultured an additional 96 h in CDM-2 containing 0.12 IU insulin/ml. Cleavage and blastocyst rates per oocyte inseminated were recorded on Day 3 and Days 7–8 after insemination, respectively. There was no significant difference in blastocyst rate among the three types of sperm; however, cleavage rates with stained and sorted sperm (53.1%) and unsorted, stained sperm (59.9%) were lower (P<0.05) than Control sperm (69.7%). Furthermore, there were significant differences due to semen from different bulls in cleavage and blastocyst rates.     

Effect of staining and sorting on boar sperm membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity and in vitro blastocyst development

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of staining with Hoechst 33342 and of the entire sorting procedure on boar sperm membrane integrity (using Annexin-V/PI), mitochondrial activity (using JC-1/SYBR/PI) and blastocyst development in vitro; the effect of storage at 17 degrees C for 24h prior to Hoechst staining and sorting was also investigated. The Hoechst staining and the whole sorting procedure reduced the percent of live spermatozoa in both fresh (day 0) and stored (day 1) semen, as determined by both assays; nevertheless, there was no increase in live sperm cells showing signs of early damage (Annexin-V positive, propidium negative), whose percentages remained nearly zero. The majority of Annexin-V positive cells were propidium positive, therefore dead. JC-1 staining evidenced a correlation between mitochondrial activity and viability. However, a significant difference between viable sperm cells and sperm cells with active mitochondria was detected in control and stained sperm, whereas almost all viable sorted spermatozoa had active mitochondria. No significant differences in the in vitro produced blastocysts both on day 0 and 1 were observed. In conclusion, despite the damages induced by sorting procedures, semen sorted as fresh or after storage at 17 degrees C can be successfully used for in vitro production of pig embryos.     

Increase of ICSI efficiency with hyaluronic acid binding sperm for low aneuploidy frequency in pig

The present study was designed to evaluate the ability of hyaluronic acid binding sperm (HABS) in increasing the efficiency of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in terms of the production of chromosomally normal porcine embryos. Porcine embryos were produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF), ICSI and ICSI using hyaluronic acid binding sperm (ICSI-HABS). Chromosome aneuploidy in sperm and embryos was evaluated using chromosome 1 submetacentric probe for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. No significant differences were observed in the blastocysts rates (18.6, 23.6 and 23.8%) and cell numbers (61.8+/-12.5, 55.5+/-7.3 and 59.3+/-9.6) among embryos derived from IVF, ICSI, and ICSI-HABS. However, the frequency of normal diploidy in ICSI-HABS (75.5%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that in IVF (57.0%) and ICSI (68.2%). Embryos from ICSI-HABS showed significantly lower chromosome abnormality rate (P<0.05). Both ICSI and IVF embryos showed higher rates of polyploidy, and hence chromosomally abnormal embryos, in comparison to ICSI-HABS embryos. In addition, we investigated the chromosomal complement of porcine spermatozoa by FISH. The rate of chromosome number abnormality in porcine sperm was found to be 6.25% (70/1120). Thus, we conclude that the use of hyaluronic acid binding sperm is superior to morphological sperm selection for ICSI in producing chromosomally normal embryos and increasing the ICSI efficiency by lowering the aneuploidy frequency. Our results indicate that the selection of normal sperm with hyaluronic acid binding assay might help to reduce the early embryonic mortality due to chromosomal aneuploidy thereby increasing the success rate of embryo transfer technology in pigs.     

Production of female bovine embryos with sex-sorted sperm using intracytoplasmic sperm injection: Efficiency and in vitro developmental competence

The production of embryos with a preselected sex sperm is important in the livestock industry. In this study, we examined the efficiency of producing female embryos by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with flow cytometry sorted (ssICSI) and unsorted (usICSI) bovine sperm, and their developmental competence in vitro. For comparison, bovine embryos were also produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) with sorted (ssIVF) and unsorted (usIVF) bovine sperm. The semen used in this study was from a bull selected for its high fertility and blastocyst developmental competence among four bulls. We first examined and compared pronuclear (PN) formation and cleavage rates of the produced embryos among the treatment groups. Our results demonstrated that PN formation rates (judged by two pronucleus [2PN]) and cleavage rates in ssIVF group (23.1% and 43.6%) were lower than those in the usIVF (71.1% and 71.6%), usICSI (73.1% and 92.8%) and ssICSI (75% and 79.1%) groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Moreover, the blastocyst formation rate in the ssIVF group was less than those in the usIVF, usICSI, and ssICSI groups (2.7% vs. 30.2%, 28.7% and 24.7%, respectively; P < 0.05). Importantly, we reported that the blastocyst formation rate in the ssICSI group was similar to that in the usICSI group, which indicated that ICSI can rescue the damage introduced to sperm by flow cytometry–mediated sex-sorting. Of note, we achieved a blastocyst formation rate in the ssICSI group to be comparable with the usIVF group. We then examined embryo quality by counting the number of normal and apoptotic cells in blastocysts. It was found that, despite the fact that blastocyst formation rate in the ssIVF group was significantly lower than those in the usIVF, usICSI and ssICSI groups, there was no difference in total and apoptotic cell numbers among these groups (P > 0.05). Finally, karyotyping analysis demonstrated that the proportion of female embryos in the ssICSI and ssIVF groups was 100%, whereas it was 58.8% and 57.8% in the usIVF and usICSI groups, respectively. In conclusion, ICSI with flow cytometry sorted bovine sperm provides an alternative approach to produce embryos with predetermined sex.     

Effects of heparin and sperm concentration on cleavage and blastocyst development rates of bovine oocytes inseminated with flow cytometrically-sorted sperm

The objective was to determine the optimal concentration of heparin for sperm capacitation, as well as the optimal sperm concentration for in vitro fertilization using flow cytometrically-sorted sperm from individual bulls. A total of 5327 bovine oocytes and sperm from four bulls were examined. Oocytes from slaughterhouse ovaries were matured in TCM199 for 22-24 h. Flow cytometrically-sorted sperm as well as unsorted control sperm from the same bulls were cryopreserved. For sperm from each of the four bulls, oocytes were inseminated in a three-by-three factorial design plus one control group (three heparin concentrations: 0, 2, and 10 microg/ml and three sperm concentrations: 0.5 x 10(6), 1.5 x 10(6), and 4.5 x 10(6) ml(-1); 10 microg/ml of heparin and 1.5 x 10(6) ml(-1) of sperm were used for the unsorted control). Presumptive zygotes were cultured in chemically defined media, CDM-1 and CDM-2 for 52-54 h and 96 h, respectively. Samples of about 10 oocytes from each of the 10 treatment groups per replicate were fixed at 18-20 h after insemination to determine sperm pronuclei formation and polyspermy. Increased polyspermy resulted as heparin and sperm concentrations increased (P < 0.05). A higher rate of polyspermy was found in oocytes inseminated with unsorted control sperm compared with sorted sperm (P < 0.05). Sperm of one of four bulls tested required no heparin and lower concentration (0.5 x 10(6) ml(-1)) to obtain optimal cleavage and blastocyst rates while optimal parameters for another bull were higher heparin (10 microg/ml) and sperm concentrations (4.5 x 10(6) ml(-1)). Optimal parameters for the other two were intermediate levels of heparin and sperm. Sperm appeared to be partially capacitated during the flow cytometric-sorting process used for sex pre-determination. When heparin and sperm concentrations were optimized for individual bulls, blastocyst production per oocyte was similar for sorted and unsorted sperm for three of the four bulls studied.     

Birth of twins after in vitro fertilization with flow-cytometric sorted buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) sperm

Flow-cytometric sorting of mammalian sperm for production of offspring with the desired sex is one of the most important new biotechnologies available for livestock industry. The objectives of this study were: (i) to sort the sperm into X- and Y-enriched populations and (ii) use the sorted sperm for in vitro fertilization (IVF) to produce sex-preselected embryo and offspring. The results revealed that the accuracy of sorted X- and Y-sperm was 94% and 89%, respectively. There was a decrease in blastocyst development rate in IVF with sorted sperm comparing to unsorted sperm, but the percentage of blastocysts on D6-D8 was not statistically different. Transplantation of the presumed X-embryos derived from IVF into a recipient resulted in the birth of female twins. These results indicated the feasibility of sperm sorting by flow cytometry and in vitro production of sex-preselected embryos and offspring in buffalo.     

Flow sorting of X and Y chromosome-bearing mammalian sperm: Activation and pronuclear development of sorted bull,boar, and ram sperm microinjected into hamster oocytes

Flow cytometric techniques were used to measure relative DNA content of X and Y chromosome-bearing bull, boar, and ram sperm populations and to separate the two sex-determining populations. Neat semen was prepared for flow cytometric analysis by washing, light sonication, and staining with 9 μM Hoechst 33342. Computer analysis of the bimodal histograms showed mean X-Y DNA differences of 3.9, 3.7, and 4.2% for bull, boar, and ram, respectively. Flow cytometric reanalysis of sorted bull, boar, and ram sperm showed purities greater than 90%. Bull, boar, and ram sperm nuclei were microinjected into hamster oocytes. Microinjected sperm were either unsorted, sorted, unsorted plus dithio-threitol (DTT) exposure, or sorted plus DTT exposure. Following microinjection, eggs were incubated 3 hr, fixed, and stained. A total of 579 eggs was observed for sperm activation (decondensation or formation of a male pronucleus). A lower percentage of sorted than unsorted (3 vs. 23%) boar sperm was activated (P <.05). However, sorted and unsorted DTT-exposed boar sperm or sorted and unsorted bull or ram sperm, regardless of DTT treatment, did not differ significantly. Sorted sperm nuclei of both rams and bulls exhibited higher activation rates than sorted boar sperm (P <.05). Treatment of sperm with DTT increased the activation rate (P < .05) for sorted boar sperm but not for bull or ram sperm. These data represent the first separation of bull, boar, and ram X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm populations and the first evidence that sperm of domestic animals sorted on the basis of DNA by flow cytometric procedures have the ability to decondense and to form pronuclei upon injection into a hamster egg.     

What affects fertility of sexed bull semen more, low sperm dosage or the sorting process?

Until now it has been unclear to what extent the reduced fertility with sexed semen in the dairy industry is caused by too few sperm per AI dose, or by the effect of flow cytometric sorting, which is the established procedure for sexing semen. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of low sperm numbers per dose with and without sorting on non-return rates after 56 days (NRR56); in addition, we evaluated the effects of bulls, in order to further optimize use of sexed semen.Based on results of using sexed semen from seven Holstein bulls, an overall numerical decline of 13.6% in NRR56 was observed (P < 0.05). About two-thirds of this decline (8.6%) was due to the low dose (P < 0.05), and a third (5.0%) due to the process of sorting (P < 0.05). The effect of low dosage and sorting differed among bulls. We observed a sex ratio of 91.6% females for sexed semen from the first 131 calves born.Currently the best way to increase fertility of sexed semen is by closely monitoring fertility so that the highest fertility bulls are used, and by improving farm animal management. However, to make substantial progress, more in depth studies are needed on the sexing technology, especially on aspects such as sorting procedures and sperm dosage.