Clinical and cytogenetic studies in intersex ewes

Nine Sarda x Lacaune ewes with intersexual characteristics and an infertility condition at the reproductive anamnesis were analysed. In order to make a diagnosis, we have evaluated their behaviour and performed clinical and laparoscopic examination of the reproductive tract, as well as cytogenetic analysis. The ewes showed basically a female phenotype but a clinical examination revealed a different degree of masculinization in the morphology of external genital organs. A shorter vagina was observed in female-like ewes and a hypertrophic clitoris in male-like ewes. Laparoscopic analysis evidenced the presence of testis in seven individuals and, for two of them, the gonadal position was subcutaneous. Different male characteristics in the nine subjects, were also observed in their behaviour with a different degree of masculinization. Their blood samples were used for determining the percentage of male cells on lymphocytes chromosome spreads by using the C-banding technique. The haematopoietic chimeras (XX/ XY) found in the lymphocytes confirmed the diagnosis of freemartinism for seven out of the nine subjects.