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 irivalent 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 uni valence as the cause of XYY spermatogenic failure. © 1990 S. Karger AG, Basel.