Freemartinism among singleton bovine females born from multiple embryo transfer

Heterosexual chimerism among singleton females produced by multiple nonsexed embryo transfer (MNET singleton females) was investigated using chromosome typing and PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-amplification of male-specific DNA (msDNA). Of the 22 animals tested, 21 were classified as normal by both methods (i.e., showing no male cells among 100 metaphase spreads in chromosome typing and being msDNA negative in PCR). No morphological abnormalities of the genital organs were observed among 19 MNET single females. One MNET singleton female was, however, classified as a freemartin by PCR (male-specific DNA positive), but it was classified as normal cytogenetically. This individual probably had a low degree of heterosexual chimerism, and it seems that the chimerism derived from MNET was difficult to diagnose by chromosome typing, although it was detectable by PCR. The genital organs of this individual (15-mo-old Aberdeen Angus) were normal in form (both external and internal) and size. However, a very small structure, resembling seminiferous tubule, was found in the left ovary. It may be concluded that most MNET singleton females are expected to have normal reproductive function.     

Diagnosis of bovine freemartinism by fluorescence in situ hybridization on interphase nuclei using a bovine Y chromosome-specific DNA probe

A heifer co-twin to a bull, in most cases, is a sterile freemartin which needs to be identified and culled from replacement stock. Various methods are available for the diagnosis of freemartinism, but none is ideal in terms of speed, sensitivity, or specificity. The present study was thus conducted to develop and validate a satisfactory fluorescence in situ hybridization procedure on interphase nuclei (I-FISH) for identifying the bovine XX/XY-karyotypic chimerism, the hallmark of freemartinism. A 190-bp DNA FISH probe containing the bovine male-specific BC1.2 DNA sequence was synthesized and labeled with digoxigenin by PCR. The FISH was performed on metaphase spreads and interphase nuclei of blood lymphocytes. Upon FISH, the probe expectedly bound to the nucleus of the male cell or to a region of the p12 locus of the Y chromosome. Twenty-four young heterosexual twins (Holstein-Friesian and Korean Cattle breeds; 10 pairs and 4 singletons) were analyzed in the present study; all but three exhibited the XX/XY-karyotypic chimerism to varying extents in both I-FISH and karyotyping. One heifer was identified to have 100% XX cells by both analyses, whereas two bulls were judged as 100% XY- and XX/XY-chimeric karyotypes by karyotyping and I-FISH, respectively. Nevertheless, the ratios of the XY to XX cells in these animals were very similar between the two analyses. In conclusion, the present I-FISH was a rapid and reliable procedure that can be used for early-life diagnosis of bovine freemartinism.     

The freemartin syndrome: an update

The freemartin condition represents the most frequent form of intersexuality found in cattle, and occasionally other species. This review considers the current state of knowledge of freemartin biology, incidence, experimental models, diagnosis, uses for freemartins in cattle herds, occurrence in non-bovine species, effects on the male, and highlights potential new research areas. Freemartins arise when vascular connections form between the placentae of developing heterosexual twin foeti, XX/XY chimerism develops, and ultimately there is masculinisation of the female tubular reproductive tract to varying degrees. With twinning rates in Holstein cows increasing, there will be greater economic importance to establish early diagnosis of the freemartin and the detection of the less common single born freemartin. New diagnostic methods based on the detection of Y-chromosome DNA segments by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) show improved assay sensitivity and efficiency over karyotyping and clinical examination. The implications for the chimeric male animal born co-twin to the freemartin are contentious as to whether fertility is affected; if germ cell chimerism does indeed occur; and, if there are any real effects on the sex ratio of offspring produced. In beef cattle, the freemartin carcass has similar characteristics to normal herdmates. Hormonal treatment of freemartins for use as oestrous detectors has been used to obtain salvage value. The biology of freemartin sheep has recently been studied in detail, and the condition may be increasing in prevalence with the introduction of high fecundity genes into flocks. Potential new research areas are discussed, such as detection of foetal DNA in maternal circulation for prenatal diagnosis and investigation of the anti-tumour properties of Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS). The freemartin syndrome will always be a limiting factor in cattle and to a lesser extent in sheep production systems that have the goal to produce multiple reproductively normal female offspring from a single dam without using sex predetermination.     

Rapid sex chromosomal chimerism analysis in heterosexual twin female calves by Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification

We attempted to apply an embryo sexing kit with Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) to sex chromosomal chimerism analysis in heterosexual twin female calves. Peripheral blood was used for the amplification of male-specific DNA, derived from XY leukocytes. When blood samples were diluted 1:1000 in LAMP reaction mixture, hemoglobin or blood coagulation did not influence the turbidity measurement of the reaction mixture for detection of amplified DNA. This procedure detected the existence of XY leukocytes of 0.01% in female blood. Furthermore, all heterosexual twin female calves, bearing sex chromosomal chimerism based on karyotyping and PCR, showed male-specific DNA from peripheral blood by LAMP. These results indicated that the embryo sexing kit with LAMP was available for sensitive detection of sex chromosomal chimerism. This procedure made it possible to detect easily Y-chromosome specific DNA in a short interval compared with PCR, and was convenient for field application of freemartin diagnosis.     

Birth of a Holstein freemartin calf co-twinned to a schistosomus reflexus fetus

An unusual case of a live Holstein freemartin calf co-twinned with schistosomus reflexus fetus is presented here. Delivery of the schistosomus reflexus was achieved by fetotomy 24 h after manual delivery of a live heifer calf. The dam subsequently experienced concurrent metritis and left displacement of the abomasum; however, she conceived following insemination 85 d post partum. Cytogenetic examination of the live heifer using lymphocyte culture and cutaneous fibroblast cell culture failed to demonstrate chromosomal chimerism, whereas polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected the presence of the bovine Y-chromosome marker BRY-1. Low concentrations of testosterone, estradiol and progesterone at 3, 6, 24 and 48 h after administration of hCG were detected in the serum of the freemartin heifer. Genetic, hormonal, histological and clinical findings established the live female co-twin calf was a freemartin, an abnormality of phenotypic sex. Failure to detect any significant peripheral concentrations of androgen supports the hypothesis that masculinization of the freemartin reproductive tract arises from diffusion of androgen and possibly other substances from the male co-twin rather than from endogenous production of androgen within the freemartin. This report documents that the freemartin condition can be induced by a male fetus with severe developmental abnormalities.     

孕牛外周血中胎儿Y-特异性序列的检测

根据公牛Sry特异性序列设计两对寡核苷酸引物。并对20份妊娠晚期母牛外周血DNA样品进行PCR扩增,结果有9份样品检测出有Sry片断(阳性),其余11份为阴性。经分娩牛犊性别验证,在20份被检测的样品中,有16份PCR检测结果与犊牛实际性别相符,其余4例不符。我们的实验结果说明,胎儿细胞可以进入到孕牛的外周血中去。     

六例性反转综合征患者的分子遗传学分析

对六例性反转综合征患者(3例XX男性)(3例XY女性)用Y-特异性DNA探针进行了Southern印迹杂交分析,并用PCR技术扩增了SRY基因部分序列。结果表明,1例XX男性缺乏源于Y染色体的杂交信号,也无SRY基因;其余2例XX男性和3例XY女性都检测到Yp-DNA序列和SRY基因。这对进一步阐明性反转综合征的病因和SRY基因的作用机制具有重要意义。     

Sexing of mouse preimplantation embryos by detection of Y chromosome-specific sequences using polymerase chain reaction.

Detection of genes known to be present on the mammalian Y chromosome was adapted for sexing mouse early embryos using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Sry and Zfy genes located in the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome were chosen for Y-specific target sequences, and DXNds3 sequence on the X chromosome was chosen for control. The two-step PCR method using two pairs of primers for each of the target sequences was employed for detecting the sequences. When DNAs of male and female mice were amplified with these primers, male-specific fragments were detected even in DNAs that were equivalent in amount to two cells. Mouse embryos at the two-cell stage were separated into two individual blastomeres, and one blastomere was karyotyped at the second cleavage. The remaining blastomere was subjected to PCR amplification immediately or after having been cultured for 48 h up to the morula stage. The Sry and Zfy sequences were detected in about half the embryos; detection of the Sry and Zfy sequences corresponded exactly to the presence of the Y chromosome, except in one sample of male morula in which embryos may have been lost before the PCR amplification. It is concluded that the sex of mouse preimplantation embryos can be accurately determined through detection of the Y-specific sequences using the two-step PCR method, even with the single blastomeres separated at the two-cell stage.     

Freemartins in beef cattle twins induced by embryo transfer

The incidence of freemartinism in heterosexual twins (male-female) resulting from embryo transfer was studied by determining sex chromosome chimerism in lymphocytes and masculinization of female reproductive tracts at slaughter. In one group of calves, ten of 11 heifers born co-twin to full sib, paternal half sib, or unrelated bull calves exhibited sex chromosome chimerism, a proportion in close agreement with that observed in naturally occurring twins. The ten calves with sex chromosome chimerism also had masculinized tracts whereas the other had an apparently normal female tract. Bull calves had a percentage of XY cells similar to their female co-twins, except for the twin set from which the “normal” female was obtained. The bull calf from this set had 5.6% XX cells although no XY cells were observed in the heifer in 66 metaphase spreads. No association was observed between the degree of sex chromosome chimerism and abnormalities of the female tract. Reproductive tracts from all female-female twin sets were normal. In another group of calves, all 20 heifers from heterosexual twin sets had masculinized reproductive tracts. It is concluded that the induction of twins by embryo transfer results in normal expression of freemartinism even though calves may be unrelated and are known to develop in separate uterine horns.     

Molecular analysis of the Y chromosome in XX sex-reversed patients

Molecular genetic analysis was performed for 26 phenotypically male patients lacking the Y chromosome in the karyotype. The sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene was found in 77% of the patients. PCR analysis of Y-specific loci in the 17 SRY-positive patients revealed Yp fragments varying in size in 16 cases and cryptic mosaicism (or chimerism) for the Y chromosome in one case. The frequencies of class I, II, and III (Yp+)XX sex reversals were 18.75, 25.25, and 56%, respectively. All of the class III (Yp+)XX sex-reversed patients had a 3.5-Mb paracentric inversion flanked by inverted repeats 3 (IR3) on the short arm of the Y chromosome.     

Use of primers derived from a new sequence of the bovine Y chromosome for sexing Bos taurus and Bos indicus embryos

A bovine male-specific marker was identified in our laboratory through random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. This fragment of 3216 bp was cloned, sequenced and mapped by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) on the taurine Yq. Primers derived from this sequence were initially screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for their ability to detect Y-specific segments in zebu and taurine genomic DNA. Two of these primers amplified a 655 bp Y-specific sequence present in taurine and zebu male genomic DNA. These primers were then used for detecting the 655 bp male sequence in DNA from 173 zebu and 30 taurine embryos, which had been previously sexed using primers for the sequence BC 1.2. The results revealed an accuracy of 100%.     

Demonstration of spontaneous XX/XY chimerism by DNA fingerprinting

Summary The M13 bacteriophage probe, which makes possible the establishment of DNA fingerprints, was used to study a phenotypically normal woman with a 46XY karyotype and her twin brother. Identical fingerprints and positive hybridzation with a series of Y-specific probes were obtained on blood samples from the siblings. DNA from a skin biopsy of the woman yielded a clearly different pattern and displayed no Y-specific hybridization, indicating that she is a spontaneous chimera. This study illustrates the use of DNA fingerprinting as a powerful and simple aid to the diagnosis of natural chimerism.     

Molecular analysis of the Y chromosome in XX sex-reversed patients

Molecular genetic analysis was performed for 26 phenotypically male patients lacking the Y chromosome in the karyotype. The sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene was found in 77% of the patients. PCR analysis of Y-specific loci in the 17 SRY-positive patients revealed Yp fragments varying in size in 16 cases and cryptic mosaicism (or chimerism) for the Y chromosome in one case. The frequencies of class I, II, and III (Yp+)XX sex reversals were 18.75, 25.25, and 56%, respectively. All of the class III (Yp+)XX sex-reversed patients had a 3.5-Mb paracentric inversion flanked by inverted repeats 3 (IR3) on the short arm of the Y chromosome.     

Sex determination in cattle based on simultaneous amplification of a new male-specific DNA sequence and an autosomal locus using the same primers

A PCR-based method for sex determination of bovine DNA samples and embryo biopsies is presented. Using only one primer pair both the male-specific sequence FBNY (127 bp) and a sex-independent control PCR-fragment, the microsatellite marker FBN17 (136-140 bp) are generated in the same PCR reaction. Synteny mapping assigned the male-specific sequence to bovine chromosome Y (BTA Y), whereas FBN17 was mapped to bovine chromosome 2. Localisation of FBNY on BTA Y was confirmed by fluorescence in hybridisation of two BAC clones containing the male-specific sequence. There was no amplification of the male-specific target sequence FBNY in sheep, pig, goat, mice, man, and several wild species of the tribe Bovini. The bovine male-specific fragment was detected in dilutions containing as little as 10 pg genomic DNA and in blastomeres from embryo biopsies. The PCR assay presented here does require neither restriction endonuclease digestion of the PCR product nor additional nested PCR steps. Owing to the advantage of parallel amplification of the autosomal locus FBN17 no additional control fragment is necessary to detect PCR failure. The results of sex determination in embryo biopsies using FBNY were in agreement with the outcome from a reference assay used in commercial breeding programs.     

Amplification and application of the HMG box of bovine SRY gene for sex determination

A fast and reliable method for bovine sexing has been developed through amplification of the bovine high motility group (HMG) box of the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome gene (SRY). Oligonucleotide primers were designed according to the conserved bovine SRY HMG box sequence motif. In agarose gel electrophoresis, a normal bull showed 1 SRY band, and a normal cow showed no SRY band. After optimization, the PCR procedure for sex determination was applied to 14 embryo biopsies. The biopsied embryos were transferred into 14 recipient cows on the same day (day 7 of the estrus cycle) that the embryos were collected and sex of the calf was confirmed after parturition. Nine calves were born and anatomical sex corresponded to those sex determined by PCR in all cases (100% accuracy). Thus, this study showed for the first time that the present method can be applied in bovine breeding programs to facilitate manipulation of the sex ratio of offspring and also allows a quick diagnosis for the XY-bovine offspring by amplification of the HMG box of the bovine SRY gene.     

多重实时荧光PCR相对定量法快速诊断唐氏综合征

为了建立一种基于多重实时荧光相对定量PCR技术并应用之于唐氏综合征分子诊断, 选择21号染色体上唐氏综合征特异区域基因片段(DSCR3)为目的基因, 以12号染色体上的磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶基因(GAPDH)为参照基因, 设计合成两对引物以及分别以不同荧光标记的TaqMan探针, 在同一个反应管中进行扩增。以相对定量指标△CT值区分唐氏综合征患者与正常人。采用EB 病毒转化技术, 把唐氏综合征患者外周血B 淋巴细胞转化成永生淋巴母细胞系作为标准品。通过优化反应条件, 使得目的基因和参照基因的扩增效率基本一致, 接近100%, 模板浓度在3～300 ng/μL范围内, △CT值的变异系数小于15%, 浓度在30 ng/μL时, 变异系数最小(＜10%), 以该浓度的DNA作为模板进行批内和批间实验的△CT值重复性好, 变异系数分别为9.8%和13.3%。运用建立的方法检测20例唐氏综合征患者的血标本和30例正常人的血标本, 正常人△CT值范围是-1.90～-1.30, 患者的△CT值范围是-2.95～-2.15, 两组之间无交叉重叠, 有明显差异(P＜0.001)。唐氏综合征患者永生细胞系建系成功 ,染色体核型和DNA 分析表明建系前后遗传是稳定的。因此, 实时荧光定量PCR比较△CT值的相对定量法快速诊断唐氏综合征是可行的。     

无精子症和严重少精子症患者Y染色体微缺失研究

目的：研究Y染色体微缺失与男性不育的关系。方法：采用多重PCR技术,研究正常男性、无精子症和严重少精子症男性不育患者Y染色体无精子因子（AZF）区域3个序列标志位点（STS）的缺失情况。结果：在93例无精子症或严重少精子症患者中,15例有Y染色体微缺失,缺失率为16%。其中,42例无精子症患者中,6例为AZFc区SY255位点缺失,2例为AZFb区SY134位点缺失;51例严重少精子症患者中,7例为AZFc区SY255位点缺失。40例正常男性无Y染色体微缺失。结论：多重PCR技术是简便而有效的对男性不育患者进行Y染色体微缺失筛查的方法;Y染色体微缺失是造成男性不育的一个重要原因,对男性不育患者进行辅助生育技术治疗前应常规进行Y染色体微缺失的检测。     

Isolation of bovine Y-derived sequence: potential use in embryo sexing.

To obtain bovine Y-derived probes, we have constructed a bovine plasmid library enriched for Y-specific DNA sequences by the deletion enrichment method. The resulting clones were analyzed by hybridization to Southern blots of male and female genomic DNA. From 200 clones tested, two (BC1.2 and BC1.34) were entirely male specific, six gave a male-female differential hybridization pattern, and the remaining reacted similarly with male and female DNA. Interspecies somatic cell hybrid studies and chromosomal in situ hybridization confirmed that the BC1.2 sequence was derived from the Y chromosome. This 54-bp fragment is present at about 2000-2500 copies in the bovine male genome. No polymorphism was revealed with any of the restriction enzymes used, suggesting enzyme site conservation within blocks of repeats. Evolutionary study has shown that the BC1.2 sequence is conserved within Bos and Bison genera and remains male specific. The male specificity and repeated nature of the BC1.2 sequence have enabled us to use it as a molecular probe for sex determination on small numbers of cells by in situ hybridization.     

A novel marker for the platyfish （Xiphophorus maculatus） W chromosome is derived from a Polinton transposon

A consensus sequence,encoding a putative DNA polymerase type B derived from a Polinton transposon,was assembled from the sex determination region of Xiphophorus maculatus.This predicted protein,which is 1,158 as in length,contains a DNA_pol_B_2 domain and a DTDS motif.The DNA polymerase type B gene has about 10 copies in the haploid X.maculatus genome with one Y-specific copy.Interestingly,it has specific copies on the W chromosome in the X.maculatus Usumacinta strain (sex determination with female heterogamety),which represent new markers for this type of sex chromosome in platyfish.This marker with W-and Y-specific copies suggests relationship between different types of gonosomes and allows comparing male and female heterogameties in the platyfish.Further molecular analysis of the DNA polymerase type B gene in X.maculatus will shed new light on the evolution of sex chromosomes in platyfish.