Synaptonemal complex studies in a mosaic 46,XY/47,XXY male

Summary We describe the results of synaptonemal complex (SCs) studies by light (LM) and electron microscopy (EM) in a sterile 46,XY/47,XXY male mosaic. Meiotic studies showed an arrest at the first spermatocyte level. Pachytene figures showed three types of cells: (1) cells with normal SCs, normal sex vesicle, and a 23,XY constitution; (2) cells with no sex vesicle, normal pairing of SCs, and a 24, (?) constitution; and (3) cells with a normal sex vesicle and fragmented SCs.     

Achievement of meiosis in XXY germ cells: study of 543 sperm karyotypes from an XY/XXY mosaic patient

Human sperm chromosomes from a 46,XY/ 47,XXY male were obtained using the technique of in vitro penetration of zona-free hamster eggs. The analysis of 543 sperm complements shows a significantly increased incidence (0.9%) of hyperhaploid gonosomal 24,XY sets, with a lack of the expected corresponding gonosomal hypohaploidies, and a normal rate of autosomal non-disjunctions. These results support the suggestion that 47,XXY cells are able to go through meiosis and to form spermatozoa. Only 24,XY sperm chromosomal constitutions were observed suggesting a preferential pairing of homologous sex chromosomes in 47,XXY spermatocytes.     

A 39,X/40,XY/41,XYY mosaic male mouse

Cytogenetic analyses of bone marrow and gonadal cells in a male mouse, which appeared to be normal, revealed mosaicism in both tissues. Three chromosome complements, 39,X, 40,XY, and 41,XYY, were found in both bone marrow and spermatogonia, while only the last two complements were found in spermatocytes. In this mouse, unlike in the human, the XYY cells showed a proliferative advantage over the XY cells. In XYY cells at diakinesis/metaphase I the gonosomes showed all possible types of association, and a pairing advantage of the X chromosome was clearly demonstrated. The fertility of the mouse was not determined. However, since the epididymal sperm count was reduced by only 55% and the incidence of sperm head abnormality was near normal, it is not evident that the mouse was sterile.     

Estimates of sperm sex chromosome disomy and diploidy rates in a 47,XXY/46,XY mosaic Klinefelter patient

A 47,XXY/46,XY male was investigated for the incidence of aneuploidy in sperm sex chromosomes using a three-colour X/Y/18 fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) protocol. A total of 1701 sperm nuclei were analysed. The ratio of X-bearing to Y-bearing sperm did not differ from the expected 1 : 1 ratio although there were more 23,Y sperm than 23,X sperm (844 vs 795). There was a significantly increased proportion of disomy XY and XX sperm compared with normal controls (0.41% vs 0.10%, P < 0.001 and 0.29% vs 0.04%, P < 0.01). However, the incidence of YY sperm was similar to the controls (0.06% vs 0.02%). The diploidy rate was also significantly increased (1.7% vs 0.13%, P < 0.0001), as was disomy 18 (0.71% vs 0.01%) and 25,XXY (0.47% vs 0%). The results support the hypothesis that some 47,XXY cells are able to undergo meiosis and produce mature spermatozoa. Patients with mosaic Klinefelter syndrome with severe oligozoospermia have significantly elevated incidences of disomy XY and XX sperm and may be at a slightly increased risk of producing 47,XXX and 47,XXY offspring. Additionally, they may be at risk of producing offspring with autosomal trisomies. Hence, patients with Klinefelter mosaicism scheduled for intracytoplasmic sperm injection intervention should first undergo FISH analysis of their sperm to determine their risk. Received: 16 November 1998 / Accepted: 16 February 1999     

Klinefelter's syndrome, mosaic 46,XX/46,XY/47,XXY/48,XXXY/48,XXYY: a case report

A 35-year-old male was investigated for primary infertility. Clinical examination showed an intelligent man with normal facial appearance and moustache and small firm testes. Testicular histopathology revealed marked atrophy of the testes with no spermatogenesis and absence of germ cells. Hormonal profile showed elevated levels of FSH,LH and low levels of testosterone. Chromosome analysis from whole blood culture showed cells with 46,XX/46,XY/47,XXY/48,XXXY/48,XXYY mosaicism. The predominant cell line was 47,XXY (87.86%). 46,XY/47,XXY mosaicism is not uncommon. However, mosaicism of multiple sex chromosome aneuploidy is rarely observed. This is the first report of mosaicism in Klinefelter's syndrome variant with five cell lines.     

Increased incidence of hyperhaploid 24,XY spermatozoa detected by three-colour FISH in a 46,XY/47,XXY male

Meiotic segregation of gonosomes from a 46,XY/47,XXY male was analysed by a three-colour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) procedure. This method allows the identification of hyperhaploid spermatozoa (with 24 chromosomes), diploid spermatozoa (with 46 chromosomes) and their meiotic origin (meiosis I or 11). Alpha satellite DNA probes specific for chromosomes X, Y and 1 were observed on 27,097 sperm nuclei. The proportions of X-and Y -bearing sperm were estimated to 52.78% and 43.88%, respectively. Disomy (24,XX, 24,YY, 24,X or Y,+1) and diploidy (46,XX, 46,YY, 46,XY) frequencies were close to those obtained from control sperm, whereas the frequency of hyperhaploid 24,XY spermatozoa (2.09%) was significantly increased compared with controls (0.36%). These results support the hypothesis that a few 47,XXY germ cells would be able to complete meiosis and to produce mature spermatozoa.     

Meiotic studies in an azoospermic boar carrying a Y;14 translocation

A reciprocal translocation between the q arm of the Y chromosome and the q arm of chromosome 14 was identified in a young, phenotypically normal boar presenting azoospermia. Testicular biopsies were analyzed by classical histological and immunolocalization techniques, and by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Meiotic pairing analysis of 85 pachytene spreads showed the presence of an open structure corresponding to a quadrivalent formed by chromosomes 14, X, and the derivative chromosomes 14 and Y in 84.7% of the cases. In the remaining cases (15.3%), a 'trivalent plus univalent' configuration was observed. Immunolocalization of gammaH2AX revealed the presence of this modified histone in the chromatin domains of unsynapsed segments (centromeric region of chromosome 14) and spreading of the gammaH2AX signal from the XY body throughout chromosome 14 in 7.05% of the cells analyzed. The potential causes of the observed infertility, i.e. activation of meiotic checkpoints and/or silencing of genes necessary for the progression of meiosis, are discussed.     

Chromosome 22 mosaic monosomy (46,XY/45,XY,-22)

A slightly dysmorphic and mentally defective child with mosaic monosomy 22 is reported. Chromosome 22 is absent in 10.5% of lymphocytes and 8.3% of fibroblasts. This is the second case report of that kind.     

XY follicle cells in the ovaries of XO/XY and XO/XY/XYY mosaic mice

XO/XY and XO/XY/XYY mosaic hermaphrodites were generated from crosses involving BALB/cWt males. The distribution of Y-bearing cells in the gonads of these mice was studied by in situ hybridisation using the Y-specific probe pY353B. XY cells were found to contribute to all cell lineages of the ovary including follicle cells. The proportion of XY follicle cells was not significantly different from the XY contribution to other gonadal or non-gonadal cell lineages. However, this proportion was consistently low, all the hermaphrodites having a low XY contribution to the animal as a whole. Because the XO- and Y-bearing cell lineages are developmentally balanced, the XY follicle cells cannot have formed as a result of a 'mismatch' in which the Y-directed testis determination process is pre-empted by an early acting programme of ovarian development. These results are discussed with respect to the hypothesis that Tdy acts in the supporting cell lineage, the lineage from which Sertoli cells and follicle cells are believed to be derived.     

A new case of XX-male (XX/XXY mosaic)

Summary We report a 10-year-old male patient with the predominant karyotype 46,XX. In only one cell of the testis culture a metaphase with 47,XX+G was found.The theories of etiology of XX-males and the reported cases of XX/XXY-mosaics in the literature were discussed.     

XYY spermatogenesis in XO/XY/XYY mosaic mice

The relative frequencies of XYY and XY cells in XO/XY/XYY mosaic mice were compared between somatic cells (bone marrow) and spermatogonia, and between spermatogonia and pachytene or MI spermatocytes. The results indicated there was no selection either for or against XYY spermatogonia. There was, however, a strong selection against XYY spermatocytes during pachytene, with their almost total elimination by the first meiotic metaphase. At pachytene, most XYY cells had trivalent or X univalent/YY bivalent configurations. These findings are contrasted with previous studies of XYY spermatogenesis in mice and are discussed with respect to a model that invokes sex-chromosome univalence as the cause of XYY spermatogenic failure.     

Cytogenetic analysis of somatic and germinal cells from 38,XX/38,XY phenotypically normal boars

Many chromosomal abnormalities have been reported to date in pigs. Most of them have been balanced structural rearrangements, especially reciprocal translocations. A few cases of XY/XX chimerism have also been diagnosed within the national systematic chromosomal control program of young purebred boars carried out in France. Until now, this kind of chromosomal abnormality has been mainly reported in intersex individuals. We investigated 38,XY/38,XX boars presenting apparently normal phenotypes to evaluate the potential effects of this particular chromosomal constitution on their reproductive performance. To do this, we analyzed (1) the chromosomal constitution of cells from different organs in one boar; (2) the aneuploidy rates for chromosomes X, Y, and 13 in sperm nuclei sampled from seven XY/XX boars. 2n = 38,XX cells were identified in different nonhematopoietic tissues including testis (frequency, <8%). Similar aneuploidy rates were observed in the sperm nuclei of XY/XX and normal individuals (controls). Altogether, these results suggest that the presence of XX cells had no or only a very limited effect on the reproduction abilities of the analyzed boars.     

A mosaic XY1Y2/XY1Y2Y2 common shrewSorex araneus

XY₁Y₂/XY₁Y₂Y₂ mosaicism was found in a wild adult common shrewSorex araneus (Linnaeus, 1758) in lymphocytes from spleen. The multiple sex chromosome system in the common shrew was the result of an X-autosome translocation and the Y₂ chromosome was the unpaired autosome present in males. The external phenotype of the shrew was that of a mormal male. The histological picture of its testis showed complete spermatogenic breakdown on the stage of primary spermatocytes, hence the shrew was sterile. The possible causes of spermatogenic arrest in a mosaic shrew are dis cussed.     

New cytogenetic variant of Orbeli's syndrome (46,XY/45,XY,-D/46,XY,Dq+)

Summary A newborn child with multiple congenital abnormalities, including severe hypoplastic thumb and atresia recti, is described. The cytogenetic analysis revealed a mosaicism 46,XY/45,XY,-D/46,XY,Dq+. The combination of mosaic D-monosomy and two cardinal features of 13q-syndrome give the possibility to consider this case as new cytogenetical variant of the Orbeli's syndrome.

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Zusammenfassung Ein Neugeborenes mit multiplen kongenitalen Abnormitäten einschließ-lich erheblicher Hypoplasie der Daumen und Atresia recti wird beschrieben. Die cytogenetische Analyse ergab ein Mosaik 46,XY/45,XY,-D/46,XY,Dq+ Die Kombination von Mosaik D-Monosomie und den zwei Hauptsymptomen des 13q-Syndroms läßt in diesem Falle eine neue cytogenetische Variante des Orbeli-Syndroms vermuten.

     

Meiotic studies of wheat,rye and 42-chromoaome-Triticales

In 42-chromosome — triticales, chromosome pairing was extremely erratic with very low frequency (60–63 %) of regular bivalents per pollen mother cell. The frequency of univalents was very low or nil in the wheat and rye parents.     

Meiotic association between the XY chromosomes and the autosomal quadrivalent of a reciprocal translocation in two infertile men, 46,XY,t(19;22) and 46,XY,t(17;21)

An electron microscopy study of synaptonemal complexes in two men carrying reciprocal translocations, a t(19;22) and a t(17;21), is reported. It is shown that a delay in synapsis affects the segments corresponding to the short arms of the acrocentrics involved in the formation of quadrivalents. This appears to provoke an interaction with the sex bivalent which could lead to a failure of spermatogenesis. A study of the literature comparing reciprocal translocations that do and do not involve acrocentrics in sterile and fertile men shows the existence of a significant association between the presence of an acrocentric in the rearrangement and sterility. These results on reciprocal translocations involving at least one acrocentric chromosome correspond to those obtained in cases of Robertsonian translocations.