Abstract
Silver-stained synaptonemal complexes (SCs) in surface-spread pachytene nuclei from a boar, heterozygous for a reciprocal translocation, were analysed by electron microscopy. In such heterozygotes, cross-shaped quadrivalent configurations are expected to form in order to maximize homologous pairing. Contrary to the classical, expected cross-shaped configuration, heterosynapsis was often observed, with asymmetrical association in the lateral elements of the non-homologous partners of the quadrivalents. This heterosynapsis is assumed to be a mechanism preventing spermatocyte loss, but inducing a secondary segregational type of impairment of fertility due to foetal wastage leading to reduced prolificacy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashley T (1988) G-band position effects on meiotic synapsis and crossing over. Genetics 118:307–317
Bahri I, Bonneau M, Boscher J, Popescu CP (1984) Double heterozygote for reciprocal translocation in pigs. 6th Eur Coll Cytogenet Dornest Anim, July 16–20, Zürich. Institute for Animal Production, E.T.H., Zürich, pp 275–289
Burgoyne PS, Baker T (1984) Meiotic pairing and gametogenic failure. In: Evans CW, Dickinson HG (eds) Controlling events in meiosis. Symp Soc Exp Biol XXXVIII: 349–362
Chandley AC (1982) Normal and abnormal meiosis in man and other mammals. In: Crosignani PG, Rubin BL, Fraccaro M (eds) Genetic control of gamete production and function. Academic Press/Grune and Stratton, New York, pp 229–237
Chandley AC, Speed RM, McBeath S, Hargreave TB (1986) A human 9; 20 reciprocal translocation associated with male infertility analyzed at prophase and metaphase I of meiosis. Cytogenet Cell Genet 41:145–153
Chandley AC, McBeath MC, Speed RM, Yorston L, Hargreave TP (1988) Pericentric inversion in human chromosome 1 and the risk for male sterility. J Med Genet, in press
Counce SJ, Meyer GF (1973) Differentiation of the synaptonemal complex and the kinetochore in Locusta spermatocytes studied by whole mount electron microscopy. Chromosoma 44:231–253
Ford CE, Pollock DL, Gustavsson I (1980) Proceedings of the first international conference for the standardization of banded karyotypes of domestic animals. Reading, August 2–6, 1976. Hereditas 92:145–162
Foreijt J, Gregorova S, Goetz P (1981) XY pair associated with the synaptonemal complex of autosomal male-sterile translocations in pachytene spermatocytes of the mouse (Mus musculus). Chromosoma 82:41–53
Gabriel-Robez O, Ratomponirina C, Dutrillaux B, Carré-Pigeon F, Rumpler Y (1986) 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). Cytogenet Cell Genet 43:154–160
Gabriel-Robez O, Ratomponirina C, Croquette M, Couturier J, Rumpler Y (1988) Electron microscopic investigations of synaptonemal complexes in an subfertile man carrier of a pericentric inversion in chromosome 21. Heterosynapsis without previous homosynapsis. Cytogenet Cell Genet, in press
Greenbaum IF, Reed MJ (1984) Evidence for heterosynaptic pairing of the inverted segment in pericentric inversion heterozygotes of the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Cytogenet Cell Genet 38:106–111
Hale DW (1986) Heterosynapsis and suppression of chiasmata within heterozygous pericentric inversions of the Sitka deer mouse. Chromosoma 94:425–432
Johannisson R, Löhrs U, Wolff HH, Schwinger E (1987) Two different XY-quadrivalent associations and impairment of fertility in men. Cytogenet Cell Genet 45:222–230
Lin CC, Biederman BM, Jambo HK, Hawthorne AB, Church RB (1980) Porcine (Sus scrofa domestica) chromosome identification and suggested nomenclature. Can J Genet Cytol 22:103–116
Lifschytz E, Lindsley DL (1972) The role of X-chromosome inactivation during spermatogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 69:182–186
Miklos GLG (1974) Sex chromosome pairing and male fertility. Cytogenet Cell Genet 13:558–577
Moses MJ (1977) Microspreading and the synaptonemal complex in cytogenetic study. Chromosomes Today 6:71–82
Popescu P, Legault C (1988) Anomalies chromosomiques et hypoprolificité chez le Porc. Journ Rech Porcine France 20:297–304
Popescu CP, Boscher J, Tixier M (1983) Une nouvelle translocation réciproque t, rcp (7 q-; 15q +) chez un verrat hypoprolifique. Génét Sél Evol 15:479–488
Rosenmann A, Wahrman J, Reichler C, Voss R, Persitz A, Goldman B (1985) Meiotic association between the XY chromosomes and unpaired autosomal elements as a cause of human male sterility. Cytogenet Cell Genet 39:19–29
Schwarzacher T, Mayr B, Schweitzer D (1984) Heterochromatin and nucleolus-organizer-region behaviour at male pachytene of Sus scrofa domestica. Chromosoma 91:12–19
Solari AJ (1980) Synaptonemal complexes and associated structures in microspread human spermatocytes. Chromosoma 81:315–337
Switonski M, Gustavsson I, Ploën L (1987) The nature of the 1;29 translocation in cattle as revealed by synaptonemal complex analysis using electron microscopy. Cytogenet Cell Genet 44:103–111
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gabriel-Robez, O., Jaafar, H., Ratomponirina, C. et al. Heterosynapsis in a heterozygous fertile boar carrier of a 3;7 translocation. Chromosoma 97, 26–32 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331792
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00331792