Chromosome rearrangements and meiosis in pig
Résumé
Constitutional chromosomal rearrangements are relatively frequent genetic abnormalities in humans and in animal species. They can lead to developmental disorders (malformations, mental retardations), and/ or altered reproduction. In domestic animal species, these rearrangements are potentially responsible for decreased reproductive abilities of the carriers and/or their mates and subsequent economic losses to the animal production industry. Chromosomal rearrangements can be responsible for meiotic division impairments, leading in males to total or partial spermatogenesis arrest (oligo-, azoospermia). Generally, however, heterozygous carriers (male and female) of these abnormalities produce genetically unbalanced gametes, leading to early embryonic mortality. In pigs, this can result in a considerable reduction of the mates’ litter size.