Rapid sexing of bovine preimplantation embryos using loop-mediated isothermal amplification

Theriogenology. 2004 Sep 1;62(5):887-96. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2003.12.007.

Abstract

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a novel DNA amplification method that amplifies a target sequence specifically under isothermal conditions. The product of LAMP is detected by the turbidity of the reaction mixture without electrophoresis. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid sexing method for bovine preimplantation embryos using LAMP. The first experiment was conducted to optimize the DNA extraction method for LAMP-based embryo sexing. The DNA of single blastomeres was extracted using three methods: heat, NaOH, and proteinase K-Tween 20 (PK-TW) treatments. Sexing was performed with two LAMP reactions, male-specific and male-female common reaction, after DNA extraction. The rates of correct determination of sex were 88.9-94.4%, with no difference among methods. The sensitivity and accuracy of LAMP-based embryo sexing were evaluated in the next experiment. The proportion of samples in which the sex was correctly determined was 75-100% for one to five biopsied cells. Lastly, in vivo-derived embryos were examined to verify the usefulness of LAMP-based embryo sexing, and some of these fresh, sexed embryos were transferred into recipient animals. The time needed for sexing was <1 h. The pregnancy rate was 57.4% and all calves born were of the predicted sex (12 male and 21 female). Therefore, LAMP-based embryo sexing accurately determined gender and is suitable for field application.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blastomeres / chemistry
  • Cattle*
  • DNA / isolation & purification
  • Embryo Transfer / veterinary
  • Embryo, Mammalian*
  • Embryonic Development*
  • Endopeptidase K
  • Female
  • Hot Temperature
  • Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / veterinary*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polysorbates
  • Pregnancy
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sex Determination Analysis / methods
  • Sex Determination Analysis / veterinary*
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Polysorbates
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • DNA
  • Endopeptidase K