Advances in Sperm Sorting Technology for Livestock Based on the Difference Between X and Y Spermatozoa
CAO Chao-Yue, HU Bing-Yan, LI Meng-Xuan, PANG Wei-Jun*
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University/Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Yangling 712100, China
Abstract Livestock sex control is a reproductive technology that involves human intervention to produce offspring of the desired sex, including the separation of X and Y sperm before fertilization and the identification of embryos after fertilization. Among these methods, the separation of X and Y sperm before fertilization is the most direct and effective approach. Multiple inherent differences between X and Y sperm in livestock, and establishing simple, cost-effective, and efficient sperm sorting technologies based on these differences is of significant importance for enhancing the economic benefits of the livestock industry. This article reviewed the multidimensional biological differences between X and Y sperm in livestock, including motility, protein composition, DNA content, and membrane charge. It also discussed 3 main categories of sorting techniques: 1) methods based on the motility differences of X and Y sperm, such as the swim-up method, pH method, and Toll-like receptors 7/8 (TLR7/8) activation method; 2) methods based on differences in protein composition, such as the magnetic bead-conjugated antibody method and poly-lactic acid film-conjugated antibody method; 3) methods based on differences in DNA content and membrane charge, such as flow cytometry sorting and electrophoresis. Additionally, this article analyzed and evaluated the advantages and limitations of each method, and provides an outlook on future research directions for sperm sorting technologies in livestock, offers a theoretical basis for the development of new sex control technologies.
CAO Chao-Yue,HU Bing-Yan,LI Meng-Xuan, et al. Advances in Sperm Sorting Technology for Livestock Based on the Difference Between X and Y Spermatozoa[J]. 农业生物技术学报, 2025, 33(4): 911-923.
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