Method for controlling sex of mammalian offspring

Abstract

Abstract AN IMMUNOLOGICAL METHOLD FOR CONTROLLING THE SEX OF MAMMALIAM OFFSPRING, MAKING USE OF A SPERM FRACTION CONTAINING A SURPLUS OF SEX CHROMOSOMES OF A SINGLE TYPE (I.E., X-CHROMOSOMES OR Y-CHROMOSOMES) AND OF A BLOOD SERUM CONTAINING SPERM ANTIBODIES, EACH ANTIBODY BEING SELECTIVELY REACTIVE BY SIX CHROMOSOME WITH SPERM TYPE. SPERM FRACTION IS INTRODUCED INTO THE BODY OF A MAMMAL IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITY TO PRODUCE ANTIBODIES IN THE BLOOD STREAM. A BLOOD SERUM IS THEN TAKEN FROM THE MAMMAL, THE BLOOD COAGULATED AND THE BLOOD SERUM CONTAINING THE ANTIBODIES ISOLATED. THE BLOOD SERUM AND SPERM FRACTION ARE THEN MIXED IN PROPORTIONS TO EFFECT INACTIVATION AND AGGLUTINATION OF BETWEEN 80 AND 100% OF THE ANTIBODIES IN REACTIVE EXCESS OVER ITS SPERM TYPE IS UNAFFECTED. THE AGGLUTINATE AND ANY REMAINING SPERM IS THEN PRECIPITATED WITH THE SUPERNATANT PORTION CONTAINING SAID UNAFFECTED ANTIBODIES. THESE UNAFFECTED ANTIBODIES ARE SLECTIVELY REACTIVE TO AGGLUTINATE AND INACTIVE SPERM OF ONLY ONE SEX CHROMOSOME TYPE. IN ONE APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION, THE ANTIBODIES REACTIVE WITH EITHER WITH EITHER THE X-OR Y-CHROMOSOMES MAY BE ADDED TO SEMEN TO AGGLUTINATE AND INACTIVATE THE SPERM CONTAINING THAT TYPE OF CHROMOSOME BEFORE INSEMINATION. ALTERNATIVELY, THE ANTIBODIES MAY BE INTRODUCED INTO THE FEMALE PRIOR TO COPULATION (E.G., IN A VAGINAL JELLY OR A VACCINE) TO PROVIDE THE POSSIBILITY OF A SEX SELECTION AT CONCEPTION.

Inventors

• 👤 Gustaaf J Van Den Bovenkamp

Bibliographic Details