In mammals, the Y chromosome-linked SRY gene is responsible for male sex determination. Therefore, a logical approach for embryo sex identification is to amplify the male-specific single-copy SRY gene. The objective of this study was to design specific primers for amplification of buffalo SRY gene and develop a reliable PCR method for sex identification of buffalo embryos. Genomic DNA was extracted from swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) peripheral blood. A pair of primers based on the sequence of Holstein bovine SRY gene (forward, 52-GTTTGCCTTATGGATTTATT-32; reverse, 52-TCTACTTTAGCCTATTTG-32) was used to amplify whole buffalo SRY gene. This amplified fragment was isolated and constructed into plasmids for sequencing. Two pairs of primers, S1/S2 (forward, 52-CCATGAACGCCTTCATTTTGTG-32; reverse, 52-ACGAGGTCGATATTTATAGC CC-32) and S3/S4 (forward, 52-AAGCAGCTGGGCTATGAGTGGAA-32; reverse, 52-ACGAGGTCGATATTTATAGCCC-32), were designed based on the SRY sequence above. Simultaneously, the G3PDH gene was amplified to serve as an internal control for both male and female embryos. A multiplex-nested-PCR system was optimized by varying the following parameters individually: concentration of Mg2+, dNTPs, primers, and different cycles number. Twenty-seven IVF morulae were identified with the optimal PCR procedure after biopsy. Accuracy of PCR amplification was verified by dot blotting. The sex of 24 embryos fertilized with Y-sperm separated by flow cytometry was also examined. Results indicated that the optimal procedure of Nested-Multiplex-PCR consisted of 1.5 mM Mg2+, 100 �M dNTPs, 0.5 �M SA3/SA4 primers, and 0.25 �M GA3/GA4 primers, and 35 cycles. Accuracy of identification was 100% for 27 IVF morulae; 14 were judged as males and 13 were females. The result of blotting confirmed that the accuracy of amplification was 100%. The proportion of males was 83.3% (20/24) in embryos fertilized with Y-sperm. This confirms that the PCR system targeting the SRY gene can be used for accurate sex identification of buffalo embryos.
This study was supported by grants from the Foundation of Guangxi Key Laboratory for Subtropical Bio-Resource Conservation and Utilization (SB0403) and the Guangxi Department of Science and Technology (0626001-3-1).
Sex identification based on AMEL gene PCR amplification from blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) fecal DNA samples