The cellular basis for interaction of sterility factors in the mouse t haplotype

The t haplotypes are variant forms of the proximal one-third of chromosome 17 in the mouse. They contain four inversions (relative to the wildtype DNA) extending over most of this region and house a number of male sterility factors. Males carrying two complete t haplotypes (t/t) are sterile, as are males homozygous for S2, the sterility factor located in the most distal (relative to the centromere) inversion. Males homozygous for the sterility factor S1, located in the most proximal inversion, are not sterile; however, if such a male also is heterozygous for other sterility factors, then sterility results. It has been suggested therefore that homozygosity for S1 enhances the detrimental action of other sterility factors. Sperm from t/t males have severe motility defects and are unable to penetrate investment-free eggs, while sperm from fertile t/+ mice have less serious motility defects and exhibit a delay in penetration of investment-free eggs. To determine whether homozygosity for S1 enhances the cellular defects exhibited by sperm from mice heterozygous for other sterility factors, we compared the motility and egg-penetrating ability of sperm from fertile mice homozygous for S1 to that of sperm from mice carrying one complete t haplotype and one proximal or distal partial t haplotype. The data suggest that sperm from males carrying a proximal partial t haplotype and a complete t haplotype have serious defects in motility and penetration of the investment-free egg, and support the hypothesis that S1 enhances the detrimental effects of other sterility factors within the t haplotype.