Sex chimaerism and germ cell distribution in a series of chimaeric mice

1. Of 30 mice born from aggregation of embryos from a multiple recessive strain with F1 embryos carrying the contrasting alleles, 4 females and 20 males proved to be overtly chimaeric. 2. Three XX/XX females, five XY/XY males and eight XY/XX males were identified by chromosome analysis. Thus 50% of the population analysed were sex chimaeras, and all of these developed as phenotypic males, though one showed evidence of hermaphroditism. 3. In seven XY/XX chimaeras that bred, the genetic component undergoing spermatogenesis coincided in every case with the component identified by chromosome morphology as XY. 4. The F1 component predominated in metaphase plates derived from cultured blood cells. Comparison with direct preparations from bone marrow suggested selection in favour of F1 cells, either through differential proliferation of stem cells in vivo or differential response to phytohaemagglutinin in vitro. 5. In XY/XX males, the percentage of XX cells detected varied from 1% to 98% in blood, and from 0% to 80% in bone marrow. 6. Of eight 'single-sex' chimaeras progeny-tested (three XX/XX, five XY/XY), only one showed evidence of a mixed population of germ cells. The proportion of the two types of progeny varied significantly from litter to litter, but was unrelated to the age of the male.