Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Male, female and intersex development in mice of identical chromosome constitution

Abstract

In the preceding paper1, cytological evidence is presented to show that in ‘sex-reversed’ XX male mice2 the sex-reversing factor, Sxr, is carried on a dark-staining body located on the distal end of the paternal X chromosome. The X-chromosomal location of Sxr raises the possibility that it may be subject to the X chromosome inactivation process3. However, the regular segregation of Sxr and the absence of any indication that intersexes occur with a higher than normal frequency in Sxr stocks4 suggests that either inactivation of Sxr does not occur, or, if it does, that the proportion of cells with the Sxr-bearing X genetically active is sufficient to ensure normal testicular differentiation. Here we present information on the sexual development of chromosomally XX mice carrying Sxr in which the Sxr-bearing X chromosome is held in the inactive condition in most if not all somatic cells by use of the T(X; 16)16H (T16H) X-autosome translocated chromosome5–10 Mice of this genotype were found to develop as normal but sterile males, normal fertile females or intersexes.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Evans, E. P., Burtenshaw, M. & Cattanach, B. M. Nature 300, 443–445 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cattanach, B. M., Pollard, C. E. & Hawkes, S. G. Cytogenetics 10, 318–337 (1971).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lyon, M. F. Nature 190, 372–373 (1961).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lyon, M. F., Cattanach, B. M. & Charlton, H. in Mechanisms of Sex Determination in Animals and Man (eds Austin, C. R. & Edwards, R. G.) 329–386 (Academic, New York, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lyon, M. F. et al. Cytogenetics 3, 306–323 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Eicher, E. M. in Prospects for Sexing Mammalian Sperm (eds Amann, C. R. & Seidell, G. E.) (Colorado University Press, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ohno, S. & Lyon, M. F. Chromosoma 16, 90–100 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Russell, L. B. & Cachiero, N. L. A. in Genetic Mosaics and Chimeras in Mammals Basic Life Sciences, Vol. 12 (ed. Russell, L. B.) 393–416 (Plenum, New York, 1978).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  9. Tagaki, N. Chromosoma 81, 439–459 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Disteche, C. M., Eicher, E. M. & Latt, S. A. Expl Cell Res. 133, 357–362 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. McLaren, A. & Monk, M. Nature 300, 446–448 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gartler, S. M., Andina, R. & Gant, N. Expl Cell Res. 91, 454–457 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Johnston, P. G. Genet. Res. 37, 312–322 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Evans, E. P., Ford, C. E. & Lyon, M. F. Nature 267, 430–431 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Cattanach, B. M. Genet. Res. 23, 291–306 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Cattanach, B. M. A. Rev. Genet. 9, 1–18 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Eicher, E. M. Adv. Genet. 15, 175–259 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ohno, S. Cell 7, 315–321 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Johnston, P. & Cattanach, B. M. Genet. Res. 37, 151–160 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cattanach, B., Evans, E., Burtenshaw, M. et al. Male, female and intersex development in mice of identical chromosome constitution. Nature 300, 445–446 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/300445a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/300445a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing