INFLUENCE OF GLUCOSE DURING IN VITRO CULTURE ON THE SEX OF PREIMPLANTATION BUFFALO EMBRYOS

Abstract

The influence of glucose supplementation on growth rate differences between sexes of in vitro produced
preimplantation buffalo embryos was assessed by culturing presumptive zygotes in vitro with glucose
supplemented (0.5mM) and glucose free synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) medium. Of the 220 presumptive zygotes
cultured in SOF medium plus glucose 48 cleaved of which, 29 were males and 19 females with a sex ratio of
1.5:1. Of the 221 presumptive zygotes cultured in SOF medium minus glucose 49 cleaved of which, 25 were
males and 24 females with a sex ratio of 1: 1. In conclusion, though the supplementation of glucose resulted in
an increase in number of males (29 vs. 25) this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.87) indicating
that it might be difficult to use this metabolic parameter as a sole criteria for sex selection of buffalo embryos.