Fluorescence body of bovine spermatozoa represents Y-chromosome

The fluorescence body test would be an inexpensive method of quantifying the Y-chromosomes of mammalian spermatozoa, and could be used to monitor the enrichment of X- and Y-spermatozoa. However, a definitive proof that the fluorescence bodies are markers of the Y-chromosome, is available only for humans and gorillas. In the study described here it is demonstrated for the first time in cattle that the fluorescence bodies of spermatozoa represent the Y-chromosomes. The evidence is furnished by a combination of the fluorescence staining (quinacrine mustard) with the in-situ-hybridization using bovine male-specific DNA fragments. The incidence of f-bodies corresponded with autoradiographic grains caused by the tritiated Y-specific DNA in the examined 144 single cells (75, 5, and 88% agreement).