Testis development in a mouse with 10% of XY cells

Two mouse Y-chromosome-related DNA probes were used to show that an aspermic sterile male mouse with small testes contained only approximately 10% of normal XY cells dispersed among normal XX cells. Examination of testis sections by in situ hybridization revealed that XY cells were nonrandomly concentrated in the testis tubules when compared with the interstitial cell population. These observations are discussed in the context of primary sex determination and histological differentiation of the testis.