Fetal Ovotestes in XX⇔XY Chimeric Mice Develop into Testes in Adults

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It has been accepted that the majority of XX⇔XY chimeric mice develop into adult males. The present study was designed to examine the gonads of XX⇔XY chimeric mice to determine whether the co-existence of chromosomally female (XX) and male (XY) cells affects sex differentiation. Southern blot analysis using a Y chromosome specific DNA fragment as a probe revealed the sex chromosomal constitution of C57BL/6N⇔DDD/1 chimeric mice. The histological features of the gonads in XX⇔XY chimeric mice were observed at both fetal and adult stages. The gonads in XX⇔XY chimeras were ovotestes at the fetal stage on 15 days <I>post coitum</I> (d.p.c.), had predominantly testicular components after 16 d.p.c., and were testes at adult stage. This observation indicates that the fetal ovotestes in XX⇔XY chimeras develop into testes in adults. In addition, testes of some adult chimeras which were not dominantly composed of XY cells showed co-existence of gametic and agametic seminiferous tubules.