Although the mechanisms under which sex ratio is controlled in nature remain unknown, researchers have attempted to treat sperm in an effort to predetermine the sex of the offspring. The methods of sperm separation that have been repeatedly reported to isolate fractions rich in X- or Y-chromosome bearing sperm are serum albumin gradient swim-up and flow cytometry. However, the ability of the se...

Electroejaculate traits and circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone concentrations were analyzed in adult leopard cats (Felis bengalensis), a rare felid species indigenous to east Asia. The ability of leopard cat sperm to bind and penetrate zona-free hamster ova and zona-intact domestic cat oocytes in vitro was examined as a means of testing sp...

BACKGROUND Male-factor infertility presents a vexing problem for many reproductively active couples. Many studies have focused on abnormal sperm parameters. Recent advances in proteomic techniques, especially in mass spectrometry, have aided in the study of sperm and more specifically, sperm proteins. The aim of this study was to review the current literature on the various proteomic techniques...

The efficiency of sperm capacitation and of the acrosome reaction was studied in the teratospermic domestic cat to evaluate further the etiology of compromised zona pellucida penetration and oocyte fertilization. Specific objectives were to compare normospermic and teratospermic cat ejaculates for 1) the kinetics and timing of sperm capacitation in vitro as determined by an ionophore-induced ac...