Masculinised Behaviour of XY Females in a Mammal with Naturally Occuring Sex Reversal.

ABSTRACT: Most sex differences in phenotype are controlled by gonadal hormones, but recent work on laboratory strain mice that present discordant chromosomal and gonadal sex showed that sex chromosome complement can have a direct influence on the establishment of sex-specific behaviours, independently from gonads. In this study, we analyse the behaviour of a rodent with naturally occurring sex reversal: the African pygmy mouse Mus minutoides, in which all males are XY, while females are of three types: XX, XX* or X*Y (the asterisk represents an unknown X-linked mutation preventing masculinisation of X*Y embryos). X*Y females show typical female anatomy and, interestingly, have greater breeding performances. We investigate the link between sex chromosome complement, behaviour and reproductive success

SUBMITTER: Saunders PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4786791 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature