FIG. 6.

Staining patterns of γH2AX and XMR in wild-type and Spo11^−/− spermatocytes in squash preparations of testicular cells. Squash preparations of testicular cells were stained with DAPI (blue), anti-γH2AX (green), and anti-XMR (red). (A to C) Staining patterns in wild-type cells, as previously described (27, 47). At leptonema (panel A), γH2AX is present in focal regions across the chromatin, and XMR staining is very weak. By late (L.) zygonema, γH2AX localization to the sex body becomes apparent, while XMR staining is diffuse (B). By pachynema, both markers colocalize to the sex body (C). (D and E) Staining patterns in Spo11^−/− spermatocytes. At late zygonema, γH2AX is localized to a discrete domain, the pseudo-sex body (D), while XMR staining is diffuse. By the early to mid-pachynema (EMP)-like stage, both markers colocalize (E).