Age‐associated aneuploidy: Loss of Y chromosome from human bone marrow cells with aging

Abstract

Direct bone marrow chromosome studies were carried out on 165 males, 3 months to 94 years of age. Forty‐one males were found to have 45,X cell lines in their bone marrow. The number of males exhibiting Y chromosome loss correlated with age, but the degree of Y chromosome loss did not correlate with age. The loss of Y chromosome appears to be a permanent event. The longest follow‐up period in this study was 13 months. The incidence of 45,X cell lines in the bone marrow is much greater than that in peripheral blood leukocyte cultures. The presence of 45,X cell lines in the bone marrow or peripheral blood of aging males should be recognized as a common event, and the finding should not be considered evidence for the presence of a specific disease state. Copyright © 1972 American Cancer Society