AIM Sex differences in coronary heart disease have been attributed to sex hormones, whereas the potential role of the sex chromosomes has been ignored so far. Here, we investigated the role of the sex chromosomes in causing sex differences in myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS AND RESULTS We used two unique mouse models, the 'four core genotypes' [XX mice with ovaries (XXF...

BACKGROUND Families with 46,XY Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) have been reported, but they are considered to be exceptionally rare, with the exception of the familial forms of disorders affecting androgen synthesis or action. The families of some patients with anorchia may include individuals with 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis. We therefore analysed a large series of patients with 46,XY DSD or a...

BACKGROUND The 39,XY*O mouse, which lacks the orthologues of the ADHD and autism candidate genes STS (steroid sulphatase) and ASMT (acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase), exhibits behavioural phenotypes relevant to developmental disorders. The neurobiology underlying these phenotypes is unclear, although there is evidence for serotonergic abnormalities in the striatum and hippocampus. METHODS ...

Background: Clearing is an important step in the preparation of histological sections, that removes alcohol and other dehydrants from tissues prior to infiltration of the embedding material (usually paraffin wax).Different types of clearing agents are chloroform, Xylene, Toluene, Paraffin, Methyl benzoate and methyl salicylate & Citrus fruit oils.The commonly used clearing agent is xylene that ...

The XY-linker region of somatic cell PLC (phospholipase)-β, -γ, -δ and -ε isoforms confers potent catalytic inhibition, suggesting a common auto-regulatory role. Surprisingly, the sperm PLCζ XY-linker does not mediate auto-inhibition. Unlike for somatic PLCs, the absence of the PLCζ XY-linker significantly diminishes both in vitro PIP2 (phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate) hydrolysis and in v...

BACKGROUND Chromosomal abnormalities contribute substantially to reproductive problems, but the role of environmental risk factors has received little attention. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the association of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) exposures with sperm sex-chromosome disomy. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 192 men from subf...