Molecular analysis of nondisjunction in mice heterozygous for a Robertsonian translocation.

Publication/Presentation Date

7-1-2002

Abstract

A Robertsonian translocation results in a metacentric chromosome produced by the fusion of two acrocentric chromosomes. Rb heterozygous mice frequently generate aneuploid gametes and embryos, providing a good model for studying meiotic nondisjunction. We intercrossed mice heterozygous for a (7.18) Robertsonian translocation and performed molecular genotyping of 1812 embryos from 364 litters with known parental origin, strain, and age. Nondisjunction events were scored and factors influencing the frequency of nondisjunction involving chromosomes 7 and 18 were examined. We concluded the following: 1. The frequency of nondisjunction among 1784 embryos (3568 meioses) was 15.9%. 2. Nondisjunction events were distributed nonrandomly among progeny. This was inferred from the distribution of the frequency of trisomics and uniparental disomics (UPDs) among all litters. 3. There was no evidence to show an effect of maternal or paternal age on the frequency of nondisjunction. 4. Strain background did not play an appreciable role in nondisjunction frequency. 5. The frequency of nondisjunction for chromosome 18 was significantly higher than that for chromosome 7 in males. 6. The frequency of nondisjunction for chromosome 7 was significantly higher in females than in males. These results show that molecular genotyping provides a valuable tool for understanding factors influencing meiotic nondisjunction in mammals.

Volume

161

Issue

3

First Page

1219

Last Page

1224

ISSN

0016-6731

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

12136024

Department(s)

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Document Type

Article

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