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Sex-specific differences in the synaptonemal complex in the genus Oreochromis (Cichlidae)

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Abstract

Total synaptonemal complex (SC) lengths were estimated from Oreochromis aureus Steindachner (which has a WZ/ZZ sex determination system), O. mossambicus Peters and O. niloticus L. (both of which have XX/XY sex determination systems). The total SC length in oocytes was greater than that in spermatocytes in all three species (194 ± 30 μm and 134 ± 13 μm, 187 ± 22 μm and 127 ± 17 μm, 193 ± 37 μm and 144 ± 19 μm, respectively). These sex-specific differences did not appear to be influenced by the type of sex determination system (the female/male total SC length ratio was 1.45 in O. aureus, 1.47 in O. mossambicus and 1.34 in O. niloticus) and do not correlate with the lack of any overall sex-specific length differences in the current Oreochromis linkage map. Although based on data from relatively few species, there appears to be no consistent relationship between sex-specific SC lengths and linkage map lengths in fish. Neomale (hormonally masculinized genetic female) O. aureus and O. mossambicus had total SC lengths of 138 ± 13 μm and 146 ± 13 μm respectively, more similar to normal males than to normal females. These findings agree with data from other vertebrate species that suggest that phenotypic sex, rather than genotype, determines traits such as total SC length, chiasmata position and recombination pattern, at least for the autosomes.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ET:

17∝-Ethynyltestosterone

Male-T:

Genetic males treated with ET or MT

MT:

17∝-Methyltestosterone

SC:

Synaptonemal complex

SCTL:

Synaptonemal complex total length

TSD:

Temperature sex determination

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Acknowledgements

RCR was supported by a PhD grant from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT) and CIBNOR, Mexico. SCH was supported by a research grant from BBSRC, awarded to DJP and colleagues. We would like to thank several colleagues for provision of unpublished information (as indicated) and comments on the Discussion, and Mr. Keith Ranson and Mr. William Hamilton for assistance with maintenance of fish stocks.

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  1. Rafael Campos-Ramos

    Present address: Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste S.C. (CIBNOR), Mar Bermejo 195. Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, C.P. 23090, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK

    Rafael Campos-Ramos, Simon C. Harvey & David J. Penman

  2. School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UG, UK

    Simon C. Harvey

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  1. Rafael Campos-Ramos
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  2. Simon C. Harvey
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  3. David J. Penman
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Correspondence to David J. Penman.

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Campos-Ramos, R., Harvey, S.C. & Penman, D.J. Sex-specific differences in the synaptonemal complex in the genus Oreochromis (Cichlidae). Genetica 135, 325–332 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-008-9280-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-008-9280-8

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