Immunological Sexing of Mammalian Semen: Current Status and Future Options

Although numerous schemes have been devised and promoted for the putative separation of X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa, none has gained widespread acceptance. We have reexamined the possibility that Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa express a male-specific antigen on their plasma membrane, but that the same antigen is absent from X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa. Immunohistochemical studies with high titer serologically detectable, male-specific antiserum revealed that serologically detectable, male-specific antigen is present on approximately 50% of spermatozoa and is located on both the postacrosomal region of the head and the midpiece of the flagellum. Similar results have also been described by other investigators working with bull spermatozoa. These data renew the question of whether the expression of serologically detectable, male-specific antigen on spermatozoa is a result of Y-chromosome-specific haploid gene expression. If so, then serologically detectable, male-specific antigen could possibly be targeted as a means of immunologically separating X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa.