Elsevier

Theriogenology

Volume 55, Issue 1, 1 January 2001, Pages 3-14
Theriogenology

Sex related embryo development

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0093-691X(00)00441-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Although sexual dimorphic development in the mammalian embryo prior to differentiation of the gonad has been documented, there are many seemingly conflicting observations and gaps in our understanding of this process. Conditions that influence the process include gamete interaction, that might give one sex an advantage in the fertilization process and in rates of blastomere cleavage that would allow one sex to accumulate cells at a faster rate. In this scenario, males could accumulate more cells within a defined window of development. Another key difference between males and females is the number of copies of genes located on the sex chromosomes. Transcripts from the Y-chromosome are thought to function as transcription factors, which could accelerate development. Conversely, the X-chromosome contains genes that code for rate limiting steps in pathways key to embryo metabolism and stress reduction. It can be envisioned that prior to X-chromosome inactivation in females, elevated levels of transcripts for such genes may enable greater protection from environmental stress and regulate growth. As we gain a better understanding of how males and female develop we will be able to exert greater control over the manipulation of the sex ratio for the offspring of domestic animals.

References (84)

  • S Krackow et al.

    Timing of mating, developmental asynchrony and the sex ratio in mice

    Physiol Behav

    (1997)
  • CR Long et al.

    Effect of sperm removal time, sperm concentration and motility enhancers on fertilization parameters and development of bovine embryos in vitro

    Theriogenology

    (1993)
  • YJ Menezo et al.

    Birth weight and sex ratio after transfer at the balstocyst stage in humans

    J. Fertil Steril

    (1999)
  • RW Rorie et al.

    Effect of timing of artificial insemination on gender ratio in beef cattle

    Theriogenology

    (1999)
  • A Schneider-Gädicke et al.

    ZFX has a gene structure similar to ZFY, putative human sex determinant, and escapes X inactivation

    Cell

    (1989)
  • PB Seshagiri et al.

    Glucose and phosphate inhibit respiration and oxidative metabolism in cultured hamster eight-cell embryos: evidence for the “Crabtree effect”

    Mol Reprod Dev

    (1991)
  • WK Whiten

    Culture of tubal ova

    Nature

    (1957)
  • JR Aitken

    A free radical theory of male infertility

    Reprod Fertil Dev

    (1994)
  • A Ao et al.

    Transcription of paternal Y-linked genes in the human zygote as early as the pronuclear stage

    Zygote

    (1994)
  • B Avery et al.

    Morphological development and sex of bovine in vitro-fertilized embryos

    Mol Reprod Dev

    (1992)
  • BD Bavister

    Culture of preimplantation embryos: facts and articacts

    Hum Reprod Update

    (1995)
  • M-L Bernardi et al.

    Sex-related differences in the developmental rate of in-vitro matured/in vitro-fertilized ovine embryos

    Hum Reprod

    (1996)
  • M-L Bernardi et al.

    Transcription of Y- and X-linked genes in preimplantation ovine embryos

    Mol Reprod Dev

    (1996)
  • PR Braude et al.

    Measurement of HPRT activity in the human unfertilized oocyte and pre-embryo

    Prenat Diagn

    (1998)
  • K Bredbacka et al.

    Glucose controls sex-related growth rate differences of bovine embryos produced in vitro

    J Reprod Fertil

    (1996)
  • PS Burgoyne et al.

    The genetic basis of XX-XY differences present before gonadal sex differences in mouse

    Phil Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci

    (1995)
  • H Callesen et al.

    Factors affecting the developmental stage of embryos recovered on day 7 from superovulated dairy cattle

    J Anim Sci

    (1995)
  • G Cassar et al.

    Influence of sex on early growth of pig conceptuses

    J Reprod Fertil

    (1994)
  • RC Chian et al.

    Fertilization and early cleavage in vitro of aging bovine oocytes after maturation in culture

    Theriogenology

    (1992)
  • N Crozet et al.

    In vitro fertilization with normal development in sheep

    Gamete Res

    (1998)
  • R De La Fuente

    Sex chromosome complement and in vitro development in the pre-attachment bovine embryo

    (1998)
  • R De La Fuente et al.

    X inactive transcript (Xist) expression and X chromosome inactivation in the preattachment bovine embryos

    Biol Reprod

    (1999)
  • T Dominko et al.

    Male predominance of bovine embryos can be observed at the 2-cell stage

    Biol Reprod

    (1993)
  • SM Downs et al.

    Hypoxanthine-maintained two-cell block in mouse embryos: depence on glucose and effect of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl tranferase

    Biol Reprod

    (1991)
  • JCM Dumoulin et al.

    Effect of number of inseminated spermatozoa on subsequent human and mouse embryo development in vitro

    Hum Reprod

    (1992)
  • GL Edwards et al.

    Responsiveness of early embryo to environmental insults: potential protective roles for HSP70 and glutathione

    Theriogenolgy

    (2001)
  • CJ Epstein et al.

    Both X chromosomes function before visible X-chromosome inactivation in female mouse embryos

    Nature

    (1978)
  • DK Gardner et al.

    Enhanced rates of cleavage and development for sheep zygotes cultured to the blastocyst stage in vitro in the absence of serum and somatic cells: amino acids, vitamins, and culturing embryos in groups stimulate development

    Biol Reprod

    (1994)
  • L Giannaroli et al.

    Prolonged sperm oocyte exposure and high sperm concentration affect human embryo viability and pregnancy rate

    Hum Reprod

    (1996)
  • A Gutiérrez-Adán et al.

    Early transcription of the SRY gene by bovine preimplantation embryos

    Mol Reprod Dev

    (1997)
  • A Gutiérrez-Adán et al.

    Relationship between sex ratio and time of insemination according both time of ovulation and maturational state of oocyte

    Zygote

    (1999)
  • A Gutiérrez-Adán et al.

    Differential expression of two genes located on the X-chromosome between male and female in vitro-produced bovine embryos at the blastocyst stage

    Mol Reprod Dev

    (2000)
  • Cited by (0)

    View full text