Failure of chromosomally abnormal sperm to participate in fertilization in the Chinese hamster

Abstract

The selection of chromosomally abnormal gametes was investigated in the Chinese hamster by direct chromosome analysis of meiotic cells and one-cell embryos obtained from crossing heterozygotes for two reciprocal translocations, T(1;3)7Idr and T(1;3)8Idr. Expected frequencies of male and female gametes with different chromosome constitutions were estimated by scoring of secondary meiotic metaphase (MII) cells in the translocation heterozygotes. The frequency of gametes with each karyotype that participated in fertilization was investigated in pronuclei from translocation heterozygotes in one-cell embryos obtained from crossing the heterozygotes with karyo typically normal animals. Compared with the expected frequencies from MII scoring, the frequencies of male pronuclei having some karyotypes in one-cell embryos decreased significantly. The karyotypes of male pronuclei showing a decreased frequency were commonly characterized by a deficiency of the long-arm segment of chromosome 1 (q13→qter) or by a deficiency of almost the whole arms of chromosome 3. On the other hand, the frequencies of female pronuclei with the same karyotypes were all consistent with those estimated from MII scoring. These results suggest that sperm nullisomic for certain segments of some chromosomes may fail to participate in fertilization.

Analysis of segregation in a human male reciprocal translocation carrier, t(1;11) (p36.3;q13.1) by two‐colour fluorescence in situ hybridization

“…It is not yet clear if sperm selection plays an active role in in vivo fertilization. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that sperm with an abnormal chromosomal constitution are capable of fertilizing oocytes (Epstein and Travis, 1979;Sonta et al, 1984;Tates and de Boer, 1984), but other studies have shown the failure of sperm with a certain chromosomal constitution to participate in fertilization (Aranha and Martin-DeLeon, 1991;Sonta et al, 1991;Chayko and Martin-DeLeon, 1992). Although sperm karyotyping does involve in vitro fertilization of nonhuman oocytes, results obtained do not support the idea of selection based on the chromosomal content of sperm.…”

Mechanisms and consequences of paternally‐transmitted chromosomal abnormalities

“…However, it remains possible that aneuploidy for other chromosomes and other types of chromosomal abnormalities may affect sperm maturation and fertilizing capacity. Indeed, results obtained with translocation carriers in Chinese hamsters suggested that sperm carrying specific chromosomal imbalances failed to participate in fertilization (Sonta et al, 1991; Sonta, 2004).…”

Flow cytometric detection of unbalanced ram spermatozoa from heterozygous 1;20 translocation carriers

“…It would therefore be interesting to inves tigate the ability of cytogenetically unbalanced spermatozoa to take part in fertilization. Results obtained by Sonta et al (1991) with hamsters show that spermatozoa nullisomic for certain chromosome segments cannot fertilize ova. In contrast to these results, unbalanced embryos sired by heterozygous transloca tion carriers have been observed in pigs (King et al.…”