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H‐Y Antigen Expression Patterns in Human X‐ and Y‐Chromosome‐Bearing Spermatozoa
Author(s) -
SILLS E. SCOTT,
KIRMAN IRENA,
COLOMBERO LILIANA T.,
HARIPRASHAD JUNE,
ROSENWAKS ZEV,
PALERMO GIANPIERO D.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1998.tb00387.x
Subject(s) - sperm , antigen , y chromosome , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , chromosome , antibody , monoclonal antibody , andrology , x chromosome , immunocytochemistry , genetics , gene , endocrinology , medicine
PROBLEM: Restricted expression of H‐Y antigen on Y‐chromosome‐bearing sperm has been reported in some species, although such preferential expression for H‐Y antigen in human sperm has yet to be described. In this study, an immunomagnetic approach was used to characterize antigen expression patterns as a function of sex‐chromosome content. METHOD OF STUDY: Human sperm was treated with monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies directed against H‐Y antigen. This preparation then was incubated with sheep antimouse IgM antibody affixed to paramagnetic beads, which then were exposed to a magnetic field and sorted. X‐ and Y‐chromosome frequencies in the two subgroups of sperm were assayed by multiprobe fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: Sperm were immunomagnetically separated into two populations: a reactive group (presumably, H‐Y Ag+); and a nonreactive group (presumably, H‐Y Ag‐). Triple‐color FISH analysis of 1,600 spermatozoa (800 in each group) showed the antigen's expression to be somewhat more prevalent among Y‐chromosome‐bearing sperm (54.1%), but a large proportion of Y‐chromosome‐bearing sperm (49.0%) did not express this antigen. The difference was not significant ( P = 0.43). CONCLUSIONS: The expression of H‐Y antigen has a slightly higher frequency in human sperm containing the Y‐chromosome, but its expression among X‐chromosome‐bearing sperm also is considerable. Current immunologic techniques relying on this antigen are unlikely to effect the sex selection of human sperm.