Cytogenetic observations on XX/XY chimaeras and a reassessment of the evidence for germ cell chimaerism in heterosexual twin cattle and marmosets

Abstract

Testicular preparations were obtained from 7 bulls, twins of freemartins and 1 male marmoset, all proved XX/XY chimeras. X and Y sex chromosomes were confidently identified in nearly all the 87 spermatogonia at mitotic metaphase and 1052 primary spermatocytes at diakinesis-metaphase. No cell was identified as containing 2 X chromosomes. The germ cell chimerism previously reported in these species is therefore not confirmed. Cultures grown from presumptive somatic cells in the testes of 2 of the bulls yielded 248 identifiable mitotic spreads, all XY-type; cultures from the gonads of their freemartin twins yielded 442 mitotic spreads, all XX-type. Direct preparations from 1 freemartin gonad, however, yielded 3 XY mitotic spreads out of 18 examined. The conflicting evidence concerning germ cell chimerism in cattle and marmosets is discussed, particularly in relation to reports of XX/XY bulls that have sired a great excess of daughters. The possibility that XX germ cells contributed to the functional spermatozoa of these bulls is discussed.