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X chromosome inactivation in female embryos of a marsupial mouse (Antechinus stuartii)

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Abstract

Blastocysts and late gestation stages of the marsupial mouse, Antechinus stuartii, were examined cytologically and electrophoretically to investigate X chromosome activity during embryogenesis. A late replicating X chromosome was identified in the protoderm cells of female unilaminar blastocysts and in the cells of embryonic and extra-embryonic regions of older blastocysts. Sex chromatin bodies were also observed in female bilaminar and trilaminar blastocysts. The X linked enzyme α-galactosidase showed no evidence of paternal allele expression in the extra-embryonic region of bilaminar blastocysts or in the yolk sac and embryonic tissue of known heterozygotes. It is concluded that the late replicating X chromosome is paternal in origin and that unlike the laboratory mouse, X inactivation is not correlated with cell differentiation in Antechinus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, 2109, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    P. G. Johnston & E. S. Robinson

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  1. P. G. Johnston
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  2. E. S. Robinson
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Johnston, P.G., Robinson, E.S. X chromosome inactivation in female embryos of a marsupial mouse (Antechinus stuartii). Chromosoma 95, 419–423 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333993

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333993

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