Bj. Hoplight et al., Effects of the non-pseudoautosomal region of the Y-chromosome on behavior in female offspring of two congenic strains of mice, NEUROSCIENC, 96(4), 2000, pp. 837-842
The learning behavior of female offspring of two strains of mice congenic f
or the Y-chromosome, BXSX/MpJ-Yaa and BXSB/MpJ-Yaa +, was examined. Signifi
cant differences were found in the Morris water maze and the Lashley III ma
ze, demonstrating that the fathers' Y-chromosome can indirectly affect thei
r daughters' behavior. Approximately half the mice had neocortical ectopias
, and females from the two paternal groups reacted differently to the prese
nce or absence of ectopias. Since females do not have a Y-chromosome, these
effects must be through non-genetic mechanisms. Prenatal factors that coul
d have played a role include possible differences in gonadal growth and the
presence of different H-Y antigens. Postnatally, the sires and male siblin
gs of the two strains may not have behaved the same toward the female offsp
ring and/or the dame, creating differences in behavior.
In summary, the behavior of female offspring of two groups of males, geneti
cally the same except for their Y-chromosomes, was examined. Since females
do not receive a Y-chromosome from their fathers, in theory their behavior
should not differ. Significant differences were found, indicating that the
Y-chromosome, through some indirect mechanism, can affect females of the ne
xt generation. (C) 2000 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.