Skip to main content
Log in

Demonstration of fluorescent X and Y bodies after antibody- and complement-mediated cytotoxicity

  • Published:
Immunogenetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A technique for fluorescence staining of X and Y bodies (sex chromatin) after antibody- and complement-mediated cytotoxicity test has been developed. Cytotoxicity was quantitated by staining the dead cells with trypan blue (dye exclusion test). X bodies (Barr bodies) of human female fibroblast (stained with acridine orange) were observed in about 40 percent of the cells which survived cytotoxicity. Y bodies were studied on human male fibroblasts and in a hamster/human hybrid line which retained the human Y chromosome only. Fluorescent Y body was detectable in from 50 to 60 percent of the cells which survived the serological test. The double staining procedure did not significantly affect the proportion of killed (trypan blue-positive) cells. We suggest that this is a useful method for the detection of cytotoxic antibodies against the products of X and Y chromosomes, especially when mixed cell populations-such as tumor, sex chromosome mosaics, sperm, and artificially mixed human male and female cell lines-are tested.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkin, N.B.: Cytogenetic aspects of malignant transformation. In A. Wolsky, D.J. Pizzarello, G.V. Sherbet, and J. Steiner (eds.): Experimental Biology and Medicine, Vol. 6, pp. 25–95, Karger, Basel 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, D., Boyse, E.A., Lyon, M.F., Mathieson, B.J., Scheid, M., and Yanagisawa, K.: Expression of H-Y (male) antigen in phenotypically female Tfm/Y mice.Nature 257:236–238, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Buck, D.W. and Bodmer, W.F.: Serological identification of an X-linked human cell surface antigen, SA-X.Cyt. Cell Genet. 16:376–377, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunker, M.C.: Y chromosome loss in transplanted testicular teratomas of mice.Can. J. Genet. Cytol. 8:312–327, 1966

    Google Scholar 

  • Dooher, G.B. and Bennett, D.: A simple technique for preparing easy to read, permanent cytotoxicity tests on mouse spermatozoa.Transplantation 23:4:381–383, 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, E.H., Boyse, E.A., Bennett, D., Scheid, M., and Carswell, E.A.: Serological demonstration of H-Y (male) antigen on mouse sperm.Nature 232:478–480, 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamerton, J.L.:Human Cytogenetics. Academic Press, New York, 1971

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, R.A.P.: A highly efficient method for washing mammalian spermatozoa.J. Reprod. Fert. 48:347–353, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Koo, G.C., Wachtel, S.S., Breg, W.R., and Miller, O.J.: Mapping the locus of the H-Y antigen.Cyt. Cell Genet. 16:1–5, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohno, S., Wachtel, S.S., and Koo, G.C.: Hormone-like role of H-Y antigen in bovine freemartin gonad.Nature 261:597–599, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Swarzacher, H.G. and Wolf, U.:Methods in Human Cytogenetics. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Wachtel, S.S., Koo, G.C., Breg, W.R., Elias, S., Boyse, E.A., and Miller, O.J.: Expression of H-Y antigen in human males with two Y chromosomes.N. Engl. J. Med. 295:1070–1072, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Wachtel, S.S., Ohno, S., Koo, G.C., and Boyse, E.A.: Possible role for H-Y antigen in the primary determination of sex.Nature 257:235–236, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Wikstrand, C.J. and Haughton, G.: The murine male antigens. III. Variable expression of H-Y by murine tumors.J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 53:537–532, 1974

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shalev, A., Berczi, I. & Hamerton, J.L. Demonstration of fluorescent X and Y bodies after antibody- and complement-mediated cytotoxicity. Immunogenetics 5, 405–414 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570499

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01570499

Keywords

Navigation