SRY and karyotypic status of one abnormal and two intersexual marsupials

Reprod Fertil Dev. 1997;9(2):233-41. doi: 10.1071/r96107.

Abstract

An intersexual agile wallaby (Macropus agilis) with a penis, a pouch and four teats had a sex-chromosome constitution of XXY in lymphocytes and cultured fibroblasts; the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene was present, consistent with the presence of a testis. An intersexual eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) with a small empty scrotum and no penis, and an abnormal red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) with no penis, pouch or teats, both had XX sex-chromosome complements; the SRY gene was not present, consistent with testis absence. The agile wallaby and grey kangaroo described here provide further evidence that scrotal development in marsupials is independent of the Y chromosome. The cause of the abnormalities in the XX individuals cannot be determined until candidate genes are identified. These animals provide a basis for further genetic studies into marsupial intersexuality and sex differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Disorders of Sex Development / genetics*
  • Karyotyping*
  • Marsupialia / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Phenotype
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sex Determination Analysis
  • Sex-Determining Region Y Protein
  • Transcription Factors*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Sex-Determining Region Y Protein
  • Transcription Factors