Influence of heterospecific testis graft on the gonadal sex differentiation of female bird embryos

Rashedi, M; Maraud, R; Piet, M; Castet, Marie-Claude; Audine, M

doi:10.1016/0922-3371(90)90110-i

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Furthermore, experiments conducted over 20 years ago showed that late‐stage embryonic chicken testes grafted into the extraembryonic coelom of day‐3 chicken embryos can induce testicular differentiation in genetically female embryos (Maraud et al, ; Rashedi et al, ). Although the secreted factor responsible was not definitively identified, it was considered to be AMH, since the Müllerian ducts also regressed (Rashedi et al, ). (The other major testicular hormone, testosterone, does not have the same masculinising effect when administered to early chicken embryos) (Faucounau et al, ).…”

Section: Testis Differentiation Sox9 and Amhmentioning

confidence: 99%

Just how conserved is vertebrate sex determination?

Cutting

Chue

Smith

2013

Developmental Dynamics

103

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Background: Sex determination in vertebrate embryos has long been equated with gonadal differentiation into testes or ovaries. This view has been challenged over the years by reports of somatic sexual dimorphisms pre-dating gonadal sex differentiation. The recent finding that sex determination in birds is likely to be partly cell autonomous has again called for a broader definition of sex determination. Inherent sexual differentiation in each and every cell may apply widely among vertebrates, and may involve more than one "master sex gene" on a sex chromosome. At the gonadal level, key genes required for proper sexual differentiation are conserved among vertebrates, but their relative positions in the ovarian and testicular cascades differ. Results: We illustrate these differences by comparing key sex genes in fishes versus birds and mammals, with emphasis on DM domain genes and the SOX9-AMH pathway in the testis and the FOXL2-Aromatase pathway in the ovary. Such comparisons facilitate the identification of ancient versus derived genes involved in gonadal sex determination. Conclusions: The data indicate that vertebrate sex-determining cascades are not as conserved as once thought. Developmental Dynamics 242:380-387,

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Section: Testis Differentiation Sox9 and Amhmentioning

confidence: 99%

Just how conserved is vertebrate sex determination?

Cutting

Chue

Smith

2013

Developmental Dynamics

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…However, chicken AMH expression precedes that of SOX9 (Oreal et al 1998), at least at the mRNA level, suggesting that its activation is not dependent upon SOX9. Interestingly, male-to-female sex reversal, including Müllerian duct regression, can be induced by grafting a late stage embryonic testis to the vasculature of female chicken embryos prior to ovarian differentiation (Frankenhuis and Kappert 1980;Maraud et al 1990;Rashedi et al 1990). The likely factor inducing sex reversal in this instance is AMH, which may have a more central role in avian testis formation than it does in mammals.…”

Section: Testismentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential role of microRNAs in regulating gonadal sex differentiation in the chicken embryo

et al. 2011

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Differential gene expression regulates tissue morphogenesis. The embryonic gonad is a good example, where the developmental decision to become an ovary or testis is governed by female-or male-specific gene expression. A number of genes have now been identified that control gonadal sex differentiation. However, the potential role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in ovarian and testicular pathways is unknown. In this review, we summarise our current understanding of gonadal differentiation and the possible involvement of miRNAs, using the chicken embryo as a model system. Chickens and other birds have a ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system, in which the female, ZW, is the heterogametic sex, and the male, ZZ, is homogametic (opposite to mammals). The Z-linked DMRT1 gene is thought to direct testis differentiation during embryonic life via a dosage-based mechanism. The conserved SOX9 gene is also likely to play a key role in testis formation. No master ovary determinant has yet been defined, but the autosomal FOXL2 and Aromatase genes are considered central. No miRNAs have been definitively shown to play a role in embryonic gonadal development in chickens or any other vertebrate species. Using next generation sequencing, we carried out an expression-based screen for miRNAs expressed in embryonic chicken gonads at the time of sexual differentiation. A number of miRNAs were identified, including several that showed sexually dimorphic expression. We validated a subset of miRNAs by qRT-PCR, and prediction algorithms were used to identify potential targets.Chromosome Res

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