Colocalization of WT1 and cell proliferation reveals conserved mechanisms in temperature‐dependent sex determination

Schmahl, Jennifer; Yao, Hisayuki; Pierucci-Alves, Fernando; Capel, Blanche

doi:10.1002/gene.10176

Cited by 28 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(54 reference statements)

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“…In mouse, proliferation of Sertoli cell precursors is an essential process that must be initiated to direct the gonad to the male pathway (Schmahl et al, 2000). We found that proliferation of Sertoli cell precursors is also an underlying mechanism of the early size increase of male gonads in T. scripta (Schmahl et al, 2003). We have also identified two other cellular mechanisms that contribute to the organization of the testis in mouse:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Cellular mechanisms of sex determination in the red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta

Yao

DiNapoli

Capel

2004

Mechanisms of Development

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In all vertebrates sex determination is the step at which development of a testis or ovary is initiated in the bipotential gonad. Although Mus musculus and the red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta, use different mechanisms to initiate organogenesis of the testis (the Y-linked gene, Sry, in the mouse vs. the incubation temperature of the egg in the turtle), the structure of the adult testis is strikingly similar. We have identified several cellular mechanisms involved in testis organogenesis in mouse. Here we investigated whether these cellular mechanisms are conserved in T. scripta downstream of the temperature-dependent switch. Cell tracing experiments indicated that the coelomic epithelium in T. scripta contributes precursors for Sertoli cells and interstitial cells as in mouse. However, we detect no male-specific mesonephric cell migration, a process required for the de novo testis cord-forming process in mouse. In contrast to mouse gonads, where no cord structure is discernible until after the divergence of testis development, we find that primitive sex cords continuous with the coelomic epithelium exist in all T. scripta gonads from the earliest bipotential stages examined. We conclude that typical testis architecture results from the maintenance and elaboration of primitive sex cords in T. scripta rather than the assembly of de novo structures as in mouse.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Cellular mechanisms of sex determination in the red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta

Yao

DiNapoli

Capel

2004

Mechanisms of Development

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“…Its role in sex determination and downstream effects therein are unclear. However, studies in humans, mice, and red-eared slider turtles have revealed WT1 as a vital male-specific gene [26]. In addition, mutated WT1 genes in humans and mice have demonstrated XY sex reversal [27].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Sex change strategy and the aromatase genes

Gardner

Anderson

Place³

et al. 2005

The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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“…For example, proliferation of somatic cells is rapidly up-regulated soon after Sry expression begins (82,83). An increase in proliferation is also seen in turtle gonads at the male producing temperature (84), and, in fact, is associated with the male pathway in all species examined so far (85).…”

Section: Sex Determination At the Cellular Levelmentioning

confidence: 72%

Temperature, Genes, and Sex: a Comparative View of Sex Determination in Trachemys scripta and Mus musculus

Yao¹,

Capel²

2005

The Journal of Biochemistry

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Sex determination, the step at which differentiation of males and females is initiated in the embryo, is of central importance to the propagation of species. There is a remarkable diversity of mechanisms by which sex determination is accomplished. In general these mechanisms fall into two categories: Genetic Sex Determination (GSD), which depends on genetic differences between the sexes, and Environmental Sex Determination (ESD), which depends on extrinsic cues. In this review we will consider these two means of determining sex with particular emphasis on two species: a species that depends on GSD, Mus musculus, and a species that depends on ESD, Trachemys scripta. Because the structural organization of the adult testis and ovary is very similar across vertebrates, most biologists had expected that the pathways downstream of the sexdetermining switch would be conserved. However, emerging data indicate that not only are the initial sex determining mechanisms different, but the downstream pathways and morphogenetic events leading to the development of a testis or ovary also are different. Keywordsgonad; mouse; sex determination; turtle Mechanisms of sex determinationIn GSD, sex is determined by genetic differences between individuals in the population. These may involve heteromorphic sex chromosomes or chromsomal regions, dosage differences of chromosomes or genes, or the cumulative effect of multiple variable alleles in the genome. The most familiar example of heteromorphic sex chromosomes is the case in humans, where males carry one X and one Y chromosome, and females carry two X chromosomes. This is the system employed by all mammals with the exception of a few species (1). In mammals it is clear that a single gene on the Y chromosome, Sry, is responsible for male sex determination (2, 3) (Fig. 1A) Birds also utilize a system of heteromorphic sex chromosomes. However, in contrast to mammals, female birds are the heterogametic sex, carrying one W and one Z chromosome, while males are homogametic (ZZ) (6). In birds no genetic locus regulating sex determination is yet known. Because investigations of birds with sex chromosome aneuploidy have been inconclusive, it is not clear whether sex determination results from the presence of two Z chromosomes or the absence of a W chromosome. In fact evidence suggests that it might be a combination of both mechanisms (7,8). In other species, where heteromorphic chromosomal regions have not been identified between the sexes, it has been proposed that sex is a multigenic trait that is controlled by the cumulative effect of a number of allelic variants segregating in the population at different loci. This is the case in the housefly, Musca (9).Many animals depend on extrinsic factors to determine their sex. Environmental sex determination (ESD) can depend on a wide range of influences including temperature, visual cues, population cues, or hormone activities (10-12). These mechanisms would not work for mammals where both sexes develop under constant temperature and hormo...

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Colocalization of WT1 and cell proliferation reveals conserved mechanisms in temperature‐dependent sex determination

Cited by 28 publications

References 45 publications

Cellular mechanisms of sex determination in the red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta

Cellular mechanisms of sex determination in the red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta

Sex change strategy and the aromatase genes

Temperature, Genes, and Sex: a Comparative View of Sex Determination in Trachemys scripta and Mus musculus

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