Estrogen suppresses DMRT1 protein expression during ovarian development in the chicken
Author:
Zhao Debiao1ORCID, Liu Long2, Nandi Sunil1, McBride Derek1, Ioannidis Jason1, Yang Xiurong3, Gong Daoqing2, McGrew Mike J.1, Clinton Michael1
Affiliation:
1. University of Edinburgh 2. Yangzhou University 3. Guangxi University
Abstract
AbstractPrimary sex determination determines the development of a bipotential gonad as a testis or as an ovary.DMRT1gene is essential for testis development and estrogen has a role in ovariaogenesis. We find that estrogen suppresses DMRT1 protein expression and prevents the sex cord formation in the chicken developing ovary. Our detailed characterisation ofDMRT1expression shows that DMRT1 protein levels are equivalent in male and female gonadal medulla during the bipotential phase of development in the chick. During the differentiation phase, DMRT1 protein levels are gradually reduced in the medulla of the developing ovary, concurrent with FOXL2 expression. Analysis of sex-reversed gonads and mixed-sex chimeric gonads suggests that the reduction in DMRT1 protein (not RNA) expression by estrogen signalling prevents the formation of sex cords in the female gonad medulla. Hence, we hypothesise that estrogen signalling is involved in the feminization of gonad medulla during avian ovariogenesis by suppressing DMRT1 protein expression.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
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