Cattanach's translocation [Is(7:X)Ct] corrects male sterility due to homozygosity for chromosome 7 deletions

Abstract

SUMMARYMice carrying particular deletions of chromosomal material at and around the colour (C) locus on chromosome 7 (c3H/c6H) are viable but sterile. An insertional translocation of chromosome 7 into theX(Cattanach's) has been previously used to rescue females carrying deletions of chromosome 7 which are ordinarily lethal. We studied the ability of this translocation to correct the sterility found in the presence of the two partially complementing deletions. We predicted that the sterility would be corrected in females who would be mosaics because of X-inactivation. The result in males was uncertain since the sterility had been shown to be due to defective spermatogenesis, and the X chromosome is inactivated early in the course of spermatogenesis. Thec3H/c6Hmale and female deletional sterility were rescued by Cattanach's translocation.