Freemartin-A Small Review PDF

See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.
net/publication/332140952
Freemartin -A Small Review
Article in International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) · March 2019

DOI: 10.21275/ART20195315
CITATIONS READS
0 77
2 authors, including:
Mekala Lakshman
PVNarshimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University, Telangana, Hyderabad
96 PUBLICATIONS 196 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:
PG research View project
Etiopathogenesis of Primary acquired Nasolacrimal duct obstructions View project
All content following this page was uploaded by Mekala Lakshman on 21 April 2019.
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
Impact Factor (2018): 7.426
Freemartin - A Small Review

Y. Ravi Kumar1, M. Lakshman2
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030
2
Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana – 500030
Abstract: Freemartin is an infertile genetic female born with a normal fertile male with which it has exchanged blood and antigens
characteristics that are unique to female and male. Freemartin or Martin Heifer is an unproductive female animal that the cattleman
should identify it at birth and save feed and development costs. Several researchers made the discovery that a freemartin results when a
female fetus has its chorion fuse in the uterus with that of a male twin. If both fetuses are the same sex this is of no significance, but if
they are different this condition will occur. When a heifer twin shares the uterus with a bull fetus, they also share the placental
membranes connecting the fetuses with the dam. A joining of the placental membranes occurs at about the fortieth day of pregnancy,
and thereafter, the fluids of the two fetuses are mixed. This causes exchange of blood and antigens carrying characteristics that are
unique to each heifers and bulls. Male hormones pass from the male twin to the female twin and these affect each other in a way that
causes each to develop with some characteristics of the other sex. Because of a transfer of hormones or a transfer of cells, the heifer's
reproductive tract is severely underdeveloped and sometimes even contains some elements of a bull's reproductive tract. The ovaries of
the freemartin do not develop correctly, and they remain very small. Also, the ovaries of a freemartin do not produce the hormones
necessary to induce the behavioral signs of heat. Freemartinism cannot be prevented; however, it can be diagnosed in a number of ways
ranging from simple examination of the placental membranes to chromosomal evaluation. Freemartins are occasionally used in stem
cell and immunology research.
Keywords: United Placental Membranes, Female fetus, Freemartin
1. Introduction the fluids of the two fetuses are mixed. This causes exchange
of blood and antigens carrying characteristics that are unique
Freemartin is an infertile genetic female born with a normal to each heifers and bulls. Male hormones (testosterone and
fertile male with which it has exchanged blood and antigens anti-Müllerian hormone) pass from the male twin to the
characteristics that are unique to female and male. female twin and these affect each other in a way that causes
Freemartin or Martin Heifer is an unproductive female each to develop with some characteristics of the other sex.
animal that the cattleman should identify it at birth and save The male hormones then masculinize the female twin, and
feed and development costs. the result is a freemartin (Padula, 2005). The degree of
masculinization is greater if the fusion occurs earlier in the
2. History pregnancy – in about ten percent of cases no fusion takes
place and the female remains fertile. The male twin is
The 18th-century physician John Hunter discovered that a largely unaffected by the fusion, although the size of the
freemartin always has a male twin (Hunter and John, 1779). testicles may be slightly reduced. Testicle size is associated
It was hypothesized early in the 20th century that with fertility, so there may be some reduction in bull fertility.
masculinizing factors travel from the male twin to the female Freemartins behave and grow in a similar way to castrated
twin through the vascular connections of the placenta male cattle (steers).
because of the vascular fusion and affect the internal
anatomy of the female (Nelson and Randy, 2005). Genetically the animal is chimeric: karyotyping of a sample
of cells shows XX/XY chromosomes. The animal originates
Several researchers made the discovery that a freemartin as a female (XX), but acquires the male (XY) component in
results when a female fetus has its chorion fuse in the uterus utero by exchange of some cellular material from a male
with that of a male twin (Tandler and Keller, 1916). The twin, via vascular connections between placentas. Externally,
discovery was made independently by American biologist the animal appears female, but various aspects of female
Frank R. Lillie, who published it in Science in 1916 (Lillie, reproductive development are altered due to acquisition of
1916). Both teams are now credited with the discovery anti-Müllerian hormone from the male twin (Rota et.al.,
(Freeman, 2007). 2002).
A freemartin is the normal outcome of mixed twins in all

3. Mechanism cattle species which have been studied. It does not normally
occur in most other mammals, though it has been recorded in
In most cattle twins, the blood vessels in the chorions sheep (Wilkes et.al.,1978), goats (Ilbery and Williams, 1967)
become interconnected, creating a shared circulation for and pigs (Bruere et.al., 1968). It does not occur in human
both twins. If both fetuses are the same sex this is of no twins because the arrangement of human fetuses in the
significance, but if they are different this condition will placenta does not allow for hormone or fetal blood
occur. When a heifer twin shares the uterus with a bull fetus, intermingling.
they also share the placental membranes connecting the
fetuses with the dam. A joining of the placental membranes
occurs at about the fortieth day of pregnancy, and thereafter,
Volume 8 Issue 3, March 2019
www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
Paper ID: ART20195315 10.21275/ART20195315 1008
International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
Impact Factor (2018): 7.426
Gross Appearance of Freemartin [2] Nelson, Randy (2005). An introduction to behavioral
Although the male twin in this case is only affected by endocrinology. Sinauer Associates: Massachusetts. pg
reduced fertility, in over ninety percent of the cases, the 145.
female twin is completely infertile. Because of a transfer of [3] Keller, K. and Tandler, J (1916). Wiener Tieraztl,
hormones or a transfer of cells, the heifer's reproductive tract Wochensch. 3:513-526
is severely underdeveloped and sometimes even contains [4] Lillie FR (April 1916). "The Theory of the Free-Martin".
some elements of a bull's reproductive tract. The ovaries of Science 43 (1113): 611–3
the freemartin do not develop correctly, and they remain [5] Freeman G (March 2007). "Explaining the freemartin:
very small. Also, the ovaries of a freemartin do not produce Tandler and Keller vs. Lillie and the question of
the hormones necessary to induce the behavioral signs of priority". Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B,
heat. The gonads are undifferentiated, uterus is small and Molecular and Developmental Evolution 308 (2): 105–
incomplete and cervix is usually absent. The external vulvar 12.
region can range from a very normal looking female to a [6] Padula AM (June 2005). "The freemartin syndrome: an
female that appears to be male. Usually, the vulva is normal update". Animal Reproduction Science 87 (1–2): 93–109
except that in some animals an enlarged clitoris and large [7] Rota A, Ballarin C, Vigier B, Cozzi B, Rey R (2002).
tufts of vulvar hair exist (Padula, 2005). "Age dependent changes in plasma anti-Müllerian
hormone concentrations in the bovine male, female, and
4. Diagnosis freemartin from birth to puberty: relationship between
testosterone production and influence on sex
Freemartinism is one of the most extreme forms of secual differentiation". General and Comparative
abnormality in cattle. Freemartinism cannot be prevented; Endocrinology 129 (1): 39–44.
however, it can be diagnosed in a number of ways ranging [8] Wilkes PR, Munro IB, Wijeratne WV (1978). "Studies
from simple examination of the placental membranes to on a sheep freemartin". The Veterinary Record 102 (7):
chromosomal evaluation. The cattleman can predict the 140–2.
reproductive value of this heifer calf at birth and save the [9] Ilbery PL, Williams D (1967). "Evidence of the
feed and development costs if he is aware of the high freemartin condition in the goat". Cytogenetics 6 (3):
probability of freemartinism. In some cases, there are no 276–85.
symptoms of freemartinism because the male twin may have [10] Bruere AN, Fielden ED, Hutchings H (March 1968).
been aborted at an earlier stage of gestation. Physical "XX-XY mosaicism in lymphocyte cultures from a pig
examination of the calf may also reveal differences: many with freemartin characteristics". New Zealand
(but not all) freemartins have a short vagina compared with Veterinary Journal 16 (3): 31–8.
that of a fertile heifer (Eldridge and Blazak, 1977) [11] Eldridge FE, Blazak WF (March 1977). "Chromosomal
analysis of fertile female heterosexual twins in cattle".
Genetic Marker Test: Researchers developed a DNA based Journal of Dairy Science 60 (3): 458–63.
test to identify the presence of the Y chromosome in some [12] Niku M, Ilmonen L, Pessa-Morikawa T, Iivanainen A
circulating white blood cells of the subject. Genetic testing (2004). "Limited contribution of circulating cells to the
for the Y-chromosome can be performed within days of birth development and maintenance of nonhematopoietic
and can aid in the early identification of a sterile female. A bovine tissues". Stem Cells 22 (1): 12–20.
positive test result for a heifer born twin to a bull indicates
the freemartin condition. The number of cells containing the
Y chromosome will be greatest at birth.
5. Uses
Though Freemartin calf is usually considered a negative in
the industry, some scientists are working to discover how
these can be beneficial to cattle producers. Freemartins are
occasionally used in stem cell and immunology research
(Niku et.al.,2004). Up to 95 percent of the freemartin's blood
cells can be derived from those of its twin brother. Male-
derived cells and their progeny can be easily visualized in
the freemartin tissues, as only they contain the male Y
chromosome. This model allows scientists to analyze
perfectly healthy and non-manipulated animals, without
resorting to transplantation often used in stem cell research.
References
[1] Hunter, John (1779). "Account of the Free Martin. By
Mr. John Hunter, F. R. S.". Philosophical Transactions
of the Royal Society of London 69: 279–93.
Volume 8 Issue 3, March 2019

www.ijsr.net
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
Paper ID: ART20195315
View publication stats 10.21275/ART20195315 1009

Freemartin-A Small Review PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Freemartin-A Small Review PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Freemartin-A Small Review PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

Freemartin -A Small Review

Article in International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) · March 2019

PG research View project

Etiopathogenesis of Primary acquired Nasolacrimal duct obstructions View project

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Freemartin - A Small Review

Keywords: United Placental Membranes, Female fetus, Freemartin

A freemartin is the normal outcome of mixed twins in all

Volume 8 Issue 3, March 2019

You might also like