HUMAN MALE MEIOSIS: CHROMOSOME BEHAVIOUR AT PRE-MEIOTIC AND MEIOTIC STAGES OF SPERMATOGENESIS

1971 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 536-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan McDermott
Keyword(s):  
Metaphase Chromosome ◽  
Meiotic Prophase ◽  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Chromosome Behaviour ◽  
Late Pachytene ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Human Male ◽  
Spermatogonial Metaphase

Normal testicular material was obtained from 53 men. The morphology and behaviour of the chromosomes during pre-meiotic and meiotic stages of spermatogenesis are described in detail. Three types of spermatogonial metaphase chromosome have been identified; they are thought to be from spermatogonia of different generations. Homologous chromosomes appear to be paired at the beginning of spermatogonial prophase, and at the onset of the meiotic prophase (leptotene). Bivalents assume a "lampbrush" appearance during mid- to late pachytene.

scholarly journals Distinct prophase arrest mechanisms in human male meiosis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Z. Jan ◽  
Aldo Jongejan ◽  
Cindy M. Korver ◽  
Saskia K. M. van Daalen ◽  
Ans M. M. van Pelt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Stability ◽  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Meiotic Arrest ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Xy Body ◽  
Chromosome Synapsis ◽  
Human Male ◽  
Meiotic Crossover

To prevent chromosomal aberrations to be transmitted to the offspring, strict meiotic checkpoints are in place to remove aberrant spermatocytes. However, in about 1% of all males these checkpoints cause complete meiotic arrest leading to azoospermia and subsequent infertility. We here unravel two clearly distinct meiotic arrest mechanisms that act during the prophase of human male meiosis. Type I arrested spermatocytes display severe asynapsis of the homologous chromosomes, disturbed XY-body formation and increased expression of the Y-chromosome encoded gene ZFY and seem to activate a DNA damage pathway leading to induction of p63 mediated spermatocyte elimination. Type II arrested spermatocytes display normal chromosome synapsis, normal XY-body morphology and meiotic crossover formation but have a lowered expression of several cell cycle regulating genes and fail to properly silence the X-chromosome encoded gene ZFX. Discovery and understanding of these meiotic arrest mechanisms increases our knowledge on how genomic stability is guarded during human germ cell development.

scholarly journals FBXO47 is essential for preventing the synaptonemal complex from premature disassembly in mouse male meiosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kei-ichiro Ishiguro ◽  
Tanno Nobuhiro ◽  
Kazumasa Takemoto ◽  
Yuki Horisawa-Takada ◽  
Ryuki Shimada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptonemal Complex ◽  
Meiotic Prophase ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Chromosome Morphology ◽  
Specific Chromosome ◽  
Cycle Progression ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Chromosome Synapsis ◽  
G2 Phase

Meiotic prophase is a prolonged G2 phase that ensures the completion of numerous meiosis-specific chromosome events. During meiotic prophase, homologous chromosomes undergo synapsis to facilitate meiotic recombination yielding crossovers. It remains largely elusive how homolog synapsis is temporally maintained and destabilized during meiotic prophase. Here we show that FBXO47 is the stabilizer of synaptonemal complex during male meiotic prophase. Disruption of FBXO47 shows severe impact on homologous chromosome synapsis and DSB repair processes, leading to male infertility. Notably, in the absence of FBXO47, although once homologous chromosomes are synapsed, the synaptonemal complex is precociously disassembled before progressing beyond pachytene. Remarkably, Fbxo47 KO spermatocytes remain in earlier stage of meiotic prophase and lack crossovers, despite apparently exhibiting diplotene-like chromosome morphology. We propose that FBXO47 functions independently of SCF E3 ligase, and plays a crucial role in preventing synaptonemal complex from premature disassembly during cell cycle progression of meiotic prophase.

HSP70-2 is required for desynapsis of synaptonemal complexes during meiotic prophase in juvenile and adult mouse spermatocytes

Development ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 124 (22) ◽  
pp. 4595-4603 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J. Dix ◽  
J.W. Allen ◽  
B.W. Collins ◽  
P. Poorman-Allen ◽  
C. Mori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meiotic Prophase ◽  
Spermatogenic Cells ◽  
Targeted Disruption ◽  
Late Pachytene ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Synaptonemal Complexes ◽  
Tissue Sections ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Pachytene Spermatocytes ◽  
Prophase Of Meiosis

Spermatogenic cells synthesize a unique 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70-2) during prophase of meiosis I, and targeted disruption of the Hsp70-2 gene has shown that this protein is required for spermatogenic cell differentiation in adult mice. HSP70-2 is associated with synaptonemal complexes formed between paired homologous chromosomes during meiotic prophase. The present study focuses on the nearly synchronous first wave of spermatogenesis in 12- to 28-day old juvenile mice to determine more precisely when HSP70-2 is required and what meiotic processes are affected by its absence. Spermatogenesis in homozygous mutant mice (Hsp70-2[−/−]) proceeded normally until day 15 when increasing numbers of pachytene spermatocytes became apoptotic and differentiation of cells beyond the pachytene stage began to falter. Synaptonemal complexes assembled in Hsp70-2(−/−) mice and spermatocytes developed through the final pachytene substage. However, synaptonemal complexes failed to desynapse and normal diplotene spermatocytes were not observed. Metaphase spermatocytes were not seen in tissue sections from testes of Hsp70-2(−/−) mice, and expression of mRNAs and antigens characteristic of late pachytene spermatocytes (e.g., cyclin A1) and development of spermatids did not occur. Thus, HSP70-2 is required for synaptonemal complex desynapsis, and its absence severely impairs the transition of spermatogenic cells through the late meiotic stages and results in apoptosis beginning with the first wave of germ cell development in juvenile mice.

Secondary Tetrasomic Segregation of MDH-B and Preferential Pairing of Homeologues in Rainbow Trout

Genetics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 145 (4) ◽  
pp. 1083-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred W Allendorf ◽  
Roy G Danzmann
Keyword(s):  
Allelic Variation ◽  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Proximal Region ◽  
Stage Model ◽  
Preferential Pairing ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Tetrasomic Inheritance ◽  
Segregation Ratios ◽  
Homeologous Chromosomes ◽  
Duplicated Loci

We examined the inheritance of allelic variation at an isozyme locus, MDH-B, duplicated by ancestral polyploidy in salmonid fishes. We detected only disomic segregation in females. Segregation ratios in males were best explained by a mixture of disomic and tetrasomic inheritance. We propose a two-stage model of pairing in male meiosis in which, first, homologous chromosomes pair and recombine in the proximal region of the chromosome. Next, homeologous chromosomes pair and recombine distally. We suggest that this type of tetrasomic inheritance in which centromeres segregate disomically should be referred to as “secondary tetrasomy” to distinguish it from tetrasomy involving entire chromosomes (i.e., “primary tetrasomy”). Differences in segregation ratios between males indicate differences between individuals in the amount of recombination between homeologous chromosomes. We also consider the implication of these results for estimation of allele frequencies at duplicated loci in salmonid populations.

scholarly journals Lateral Elements Inside Synaptonemal Complex-Like Polycomplexes in ndt80 Mutants of Yeast Bind DNA

Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 163 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasanuzzaman Bhuiyan ◽  
Gunilla Dahlfors ◽  
Karin Schmekel
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Synaptonemal Complex ◽  
Immunoelectron Microscopy ◽  
Meiotic Prophase ◽  
Lateral Element ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Meiotic Prophase I ◽  
Dna Antibodies

Abstract The synaptonemal complex (SC) keeps the synapsed homologous chromosomes together during pachytene in meiotic prophase I. Structures that resemble stacks of SCs, polycomplexes, are sometimes found before or after pachytene. We have investigated ndt80 mutants of yeast, which arrest in pachytene. SCs appear normal in spread chromosome preparations, but are only occasionally found in intact nuclei examined in the electron microscope. Instead, large polycomplexes occur in almost every ndt80 mutant nucleus. Immunoelectron microscopy using DNA antibodies show strong preferential labeling to the lateral element parts of the polycomplexes. In situ hybridization using chromosome-specific probes confirms that the chromosomes in ndt80 mutants are paired and attached to the SCs. Our results suggest that polycomplexes can be involved in binding of chromosomes and possibly also in synapsis.

MEIOSIS IN THE GRASSHOPPER. II. THE PRELEPTOTENE SPIRAL STAGE DURING OOGENESIS AND SPERMATOGENESIS IN MELANOPLUS FEMUR-RUBRUM

1972 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Church
Keyword(s):  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Crossing Over ◽  
Chromosome Behaviour ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Diploid Complement

Chromosome behaviour occurring from premeiotic DNA synthesis to leptotene of meiosis is described for both males (spermatogenesis) and females (oogenesis) in the grasshopper Melanoplus femur-rubrum. These events include a period of chromosome spiralization and contraction following premeiotic DNA synthesis and prior to leptotene. The diploid complement of chromosomes becomes visible in both sexes. No pairing between homologous chromosomes or chiasmata are observed in either sex. The results suggest that synapsis and crossing over must occur following preleptotene spiralization during spermatogenesis and oogenesis in this grasshopper.

scholarly journals Synaptonemal complex antigen location and conservation.

1987 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
P B Moens ◽  
C Heyting ◽  
A J Dietrich ◽  
W van Raamsdonk ◽  
Q Chen
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Pairing ◽  
Meiotic Prophase ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Genetic Recombination ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Lateral Element ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Recombination Nodules ◽  
Grain Distribution

The axial cores of chromosomes in the meiotic prophase nuclei of most sexually reproducing organisms play a pivotal role in the arrangement of chromatin, in the synapsis of homologous chromosomes, in the process of genetic recombination, and in the disjunction of chromosomes. We report an immunogold analysis of the axial cores and the synaptonemal complexes (SC) using two mouse monoclonal antibodies raised against isolated rat SCs. In Western blots of purified SCs, antibody II52F10 recognizes a 30- and a 33-kD peptide (Heyting, C., P. B. Moens, W. van Raamsdonk, A. J. J. Dietrich, A. C. G. Vink, and E. J. W. Redeker, 1987, Eur. J. Cell Biol., 43: 148-154). In spreads of rat spermatocyte nuclei it produces gold grains over the cores of autosomal and sex chromosomes. The cores label lightly during the chromosome pairing stage (zygotene) of early meiotic prophase and they become more intensely labeled when they are parallel aligned as the lateral elements of the SC during pachytene (55 grains/micron SC). Statistical analysis of electronically recorded gold grain positions shows that the two means of the bimodal gold grain distribution coincide with the centers of the lateral elements. At diplotene, when the cores separate, the antigen is still detected along the length of the core and the enlarged ends are heavily labeled. Shadow-cast SC preparations show that recombination nodules are not labeled. The continued presence suggests that the antigens serve a continuing function in the cores, such as chromatin binding, and/or structural integrity. Antibody III15B8, which does not recognize the 30- and 33-kD peptides, produces gold grains predominantly between the lateral elements. The grain distribution is bimodal with the mean of each peak just inside the pairing face of the lateral element. The antigen is present where and while the cores of the homologous chromosomes are paired. From the location and the timing, it is assumed that the antigen recognized by III15B8 functions in chromosome pairing at meiotic prophase. The two anti-rat SC antibodies label rat and mouse SCs but not rabbit or dog SCs. A positive control using human CREST (calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia) anti-centromere serum gives equivalent labeling of SC centromeres in the rat, mouse, rabbit, and dog. It is concluded that the SC antigens recognized by II52F10 and III15B8 are not widely conserved. The two antibodies do not bind to cellular or nuclear components of somatic cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

scholarly journals Human Male Meiosis and Sperm Aneuploidies

10.5772/34952 ◽  
2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Vera ◽  
Vanessa Peinado ◽  
Nasser Al-Asmar ◽  
Jennifer Gruhn ◽  
Lorena Rodrigo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Male Meiosis ◽  
Human Male

scholarly journals Mammalian Protein SCP1 Forms Synaptonemal Complex-like Structures in the Absence of Meiotic Chromosomes

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 212-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rupert Öllinger ◽  
Manfred Alsheimer ◽  
Ricardo Benavente
Keyword(s):  
Chromosome Segregation ◽  
Meiotic Prophase ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Homologous Chromosomes ◽  
Meiotic Chromosomes ◽  
Heterologous System ◽  
Primary Determinant ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Mammalian Protein

Synaptonemal complexes (SCs) are evolutionary conserved, meiosis-specific structures that play a central role in synapsis of homologous chromosomes, chiasmata distribution, and chromosome segregation. However, it is still for the most part unclear how SCs do assemble during meiotic prophase. Major components of mammalian SCs are the meiosis-specific proteins SCP1, 2, and 3. To investigate the role of SCP1 in SC assembly, we expressed SCP1 in a heterologous system, i.e., in COS-7 cells that normally do not express SC proteins. Notably, under these experimental conditions SCP1 is able to form structures that closely resemble SCs (i.e., polycomplexes). Moreover, we show that mutations that modify the length of the central α-helical domain of SCP1 influence the width of polycomplexes. Finally, we demonstrate that deletions of the nonhelical N- or C-termini both affect polycomplex assembly, although in a different manner. We conclude that SCP1 is a primary determinant of SC assembly that plays a key role in synapsis of homologous chromosomes.

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