H-Y antigen in a fertile XY female horse.
Abstract: The presence of significantly reduced levels of H-Y antigen in the blood of an XY mare is consistent with the view that H-Y genes comprise a system of testis determinants. Loss or suppression of a critical portion of H-Y genes and subthreshold expression of H-Y antigen could account for a failure of testicular differentiation, thereby allowing a measure of ovarian development in an XY embryo.
Publication Date: 1980-01-01 PubMed ID: 7359472DOI: 10.1530/jrf.0.0580157Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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This research investigated the lower than normal levels of H-Y antigen in a fertile XY female horse. The results suggest that the H-Y genes, which are normally associated with testes development, may have been somehow lost or suppressed, allowing for ovarian development in the horse.
Research Context
- The focus of this study is on a particular female horse that is unique because, despite being genetically male (XY), it developed as and functions as a female.
- H-Y antigen is a substance that usually triggers the development of testes in embryonic development.
Key Findings
- The researchers discovered that this horse has significantly lower levels of H-Y antigen than would be expected for a genetically male individual.
- They propose that this could be due to a loss or suppression of H-Y genes.
Implications of the Findings
- Normative understanding suggests that the presence of H-Y genes leads to testes development. The findings in this study suggest that if these genes are missing or suppressed, ovarian development may occur instead, even in a genetically male individual.
- This has potential implications for understanding the development of sex in mammals, suggesting potential for variation in sexual development even among genetically same-sex individuals.
Conclusion of the Study
- The researchers concluded that in this particular horse, the unusually low levels of H-Y antigen could account for a failure of testicular differentiation, which allowed for ovarian development.
- This suggests that even in genetically male animals, ovarian development can occur if H-Y antigen levels are low enough.
Cite This Article
APA
Sharp AJ, Wachtel SS, Benirschke K.
(1980).
H-Y antigen in a fertile XY female horse.
J Reprod Fertil, 58(1), 157-160.
https://doi.org/10.1530/jrf.0.0580157 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Disorders of Sex Development / immunology
- Disorders of Sex Development / veterinary
- Female
- Fertility
- H-Y Antigen / analysis
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Dumic M, Lin-Su K, Leibel NI, Ciglar S, Vinci G, Lasan R, Nimkarn S, Wilson JD, McElreavey K, New MI. Report of fertility in a woman with a predominantly 46,XY karyotype in a family with multiple disorders of sexual development.. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008 Jan;93(1):182-9.
- Russell MH, Wachtel SS, Davis BW, Cahill LT, Groos E, Niblack GD, Burr IM. Ovarian development in 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis.. Hum Genet 1982;60(2):196-9.
- Zenzes MT, Reed TE. Variability in serologically detected male antigen titer and some resulting problems: a critical review.. Hum Genet 1984;66(2-3):103-9.
- Kent MG, Shoffner RN, Hunter A, Elliston KO, Schroder W, Tolley E, Wachtel SS. XY sex reversal syndrome in the mare: clinical and behavioral studies, H-Y phenotype.. Hum Genet 1988 Aug;79(4):321-8.
- Kent MG, Schneller HE, Hegsted RL, Johnston SD, Wachtel SS. Concentration of serum testosterone in XY sex reversed horses.. J Endocrinol Invest 1988 Sep;11(8):609-13.
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