The Y chromosome of the mouse is decondensed in Sertoli cells.
The condensation of the Y chromosome in mouse cells was studied with two repetitive DNA probes, pY353/B and M34. Both DNA probes are specific to the Y chromosome and hybridize in situ along the whole chromosome. Due to the high resolution of the in situ hybridization technique with non-radioactive labeled DNA probes it was possible to observe the degree of condensation of the Y chromosome in the interphase cell nuclei of various somatic tissues and on testes preparations. The Sertoli cells were the only cell type in which the Y chromosome was always observed to be in a highly decondensed state. The decondensation of the Y chromosome in the Sertoli cells supports the view that the genetic activity of the Y chromosome is cell autonomous and opens the way to its molecular analysis.
Guttenbach
M
M
Department of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Schmid
M
M
Jauch
A
A
Vogt
P
P
D000818:Animals; D015342:DNA Probes; D007399:Interphase; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D015342:DNA Probes