Detection of sex chromosome aneuploidy in equine spermatozoa using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

This research aimed to identify abnormalities in horse sperm cells’ sex chromosomes using a fluorescence technique. The researchers found that this method is effective in detecting such abnormalities and determining gender distribution among sperm cells.

Objective of the Research

• The primary goal of this research was to diagnose any abnormality, technically referred to as aneuploidy, in horse sperm cells. This was performed using a technique called multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

Procedure of the Research

• In this experiment, specific molecular probes for equine sex chromosomes and an autosome pair (EGFR probe) were used. The probes were labeled by different fluorochromes (fluorescent compound) and applied on decondensed sperm cells from four male horses (stallions).
• The researchers examined more than 8800 sperm cells for this study.

Findings of the Research

• The research found a total anomaly incidence of approximately 0.496%. Some types of anomalies like lack of sex chromosome accounted for 0.18% of all cells, while others like diploidy (two sets of chromosomes instead of one) were present in approximately 0.057% of cells.
• Furthermore, the study observed that the normal ratio of X and Y chromosome-bearing cells differed from the expected 1:1 in one stallion, with a significant p-value of 0.0002, suggesting a definite discrepancy. This was, however, not the case with the other three stallions where the ratio was close to equal.

Conclusion of the Research

• The researchers concluded that the Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) technique is an efficient method to identify sex chromosome aberrations in horse sperm cells. It also facilitates the determination of the ratio between X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm cells.