Expression of a candidate sex-determining gene during mouse testis differentiation

Abstract

The development of a eutherian mammal as a male is a consequence of testis formation in the embryo, which is thought to be initiated by a gene on the Y chromosome. In the absence of this gene, ovaries are formed and female characteristics develop. Sex determination therefore hinges on the action of this testis-determining gene, known as Tdy in mice and TDF in humans. In the past, several genes proposed as candidates for Tdy/TDF have subsequently been dismissed on the grounds of inappropriate location or expression. We have recently described a candidate for Tdy, which maps to the minimum sex-determining region of the mouse Y chromosome. To examine further the involvement of this gene, Sry, in testis development, we have studied its expression in detail. Fetal expression of Sry is limited to the period in which testes begin to form. This expression is confined to gonadal tissue and does not require the presence of germ cells. Our observations strongly support a primary role for Sry in mouse sex determination.

A study of goat SRY protein expression suggests putative new roles for this gene in the developing testis of a species with long‐lasting SRY expression

“…The choice between these two destinies is determined by the sex chromosome content of the individual. Indeed, in most eutherian mammals, sex determination is triggered by expression of the SRY gene located on the Y chromosome Koopman et al, 1990). As a transcription factor, SRY initiates a cascade of the expression of other male sex-determining genes.…”

Evidence for multiple functional copies of the male sex-determining locus, sry, in African murine rodents

“…With rare exception (see, e.g., , Sry is male-specific in all mammal species examined thus far, a sample that includes representatives from three metatherian and seven eutherian orders (Sinclair et al 1990;Foster et al 1992;Pallsboll et al 1992;. It is expressed in the genital ridge at a time consistent with its having a role in testis determination (Gubbay et al 1990;Koopman et al 1991b), and a 14.5-kb mouse genomic DNA fragment containing Sry can induce testis development when injected into (chromosomally female) XX mouse embryos soon after fertilization (Koopman et al 1991a).…”

Histone modifications proposed to regulate sexual differentiation of brain and behavior

“…The sexual differentiation of a mammalian embryo starts with the expression of the SRY gene, which is located on the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome and drives the formation of testes from the bipotential gonads [1]. The testes in turn produce a peptide, antiMullerian hormone (AMH) that causes the atrophy of the female gonads and accessory reproductive tissues.…”