Gonad Morphogenesis in Vertebrates: Divergent Means to a Convergent End

DeFalco, Tony; Capel, Blanche

doi:10.1146/annurev.cellbio.042308.13350

Cited by 152 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 140 publications

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“…Our results demonstrate that determination of the developmental pathway towards an ovary or a testis occurs independently of the presence of germ cells. The present findings in the goldfish are consistent with previous results from the loach, turtles and mammals DiNapoli and Capel, 2007;DeFalco and Capel (2009)). This was also confirmed by the experiments in which a single PGC was transplanted.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Germ cells are not the primary factor for sexual fate determination in goldfish

Goto

Saito

Takeda

et al. 2012

Developmental Biology

123

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The presence of germ cells in the early gonad is important for sexual fate determination and gonadal development in vertebrates. Recent studies in zebrafish and medaka have shown that a lack of germ cells in the early gonad induces sex reversal in favor of a male phenotype. However, it is uncertain whether the gonadal somatic cells or the germ cells are predominant in determining gonadal fate in other vertebrate. Here, we investigated the role of germ cells in gonadal differentiation in goldfish, a gonochoristic species that possesses an XX-XY genetic sex determination system. The primordial germ cells (PGCs) of the fish were eliminated during embryogenesis by injection of a morpholino oligonucleotide against the dead end gene. Fish without germ cells showed two types of gonadal morphology: one with an ovarian cavity; the other with seminiferous tubules. Next, we tested whether function could be restored to these empty gonads by transplantation of a single PGC into each embryo, and also determined the gonadal sex of the resulting germline chimeras. Transplantation of a single GFP-labeled PGC successfully produced a germline chimera in 42.7% of the embryos. Some of the adult germline chimeras had a developed gonad on one side that contained donor derived germ cells, while the contralateral gonad lacked any early germ cell stages. Female germline chimeras possessed a normal ovary and a germ-cell free ovary-like structure on the contralateral side; this structure was similar to those seen in female morphants. Male germline chimeras possessed a testis and a contralateral empty testis that contained some sperm in the tubular lumens. Analysis of aromatase, foxl2 and amh expression in gonads of morphants and germline chimeras suggested that somatic transdifferentiation did not occur. The offspring of fertile germline chimeras all had the donor-derived phenotype, indicating that germline replacement had occurred and that the transplanted PGC had rescued both female and male gonadal function. These findings suggest that the absence of germ cells did not affect the pathway for ovary or testis development and that phenotypic sex in goldfish is determined by somatic cells under genetic sex control rather than an interaction between the germ cells and somatic cells.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Germ cells are not the primary factor for sexual fate determination in goldfish

Goto

Saito

Takeda

et al. 2012

Developmental Biology

123

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“…In the developing embryo, the gonad forms with the potential to develop as an ovary or a testis (84). Gonad development can be divided into three phases.…”

Section: A the Bipotential Gonadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Platelet-Derived Growth Factors in the Testis

et al. 2010

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Normal development and function of the testis are controlled by endocrine and paracrine signaling pathways. Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are growth factors that mediate epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in various tissues during normal and abnormal processes such as embryo development, wound healing, tissue fibrosis, vascular disorders, and cancer. PDGFs and their receptors (PDGFRs) have emerged as key players in the regulation of embryonic and postnatal development of the male gonad. Cells that express PDGFs and PDGFRs are found in the testis of mammals, birds, and reptiles, and their distribution, regulation, and function vary across species. Testicular PDGFs and PDGFRs appear after the process of sex determination in animals that use either genetic sex determination or environmental sex determination. Sertoli cells are the main PDGF-producing cells during the entire period of prenatal and postnatal testis development. Fetal Leydig cells and their precursors, adult Leydig cells and their stem cell precursors, peritubular myoid cells, cells of the blood vessels, and gonocytes are the testicular cell types expressing PDGFRs. Genetically targeted deletions of PDGFs, PDGFRs, PDGFR target genes or pharmacological silencing of PDGF signaling produce profound damage on the target cells that, depending on the developmental period, are under direct or indirect control of PDGF. PDGF signaling may also serve diverse functions outside of the realm of testis development, including testicular tumors. In this review, we provide a framework of the current knowledge to clarify the useful information regarding how PDGFs function in individual cells of the testis.

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“…Sex-specific germ-line development is marked by the entry of XY (male) germ cells into mitotic arrest and XX (female) germ cells into meiosis, processes that involve signalling by Fgf9, Nodal, Tgf/Activin and retinoic acid (Baltus et al 2006, Koubova et al 2006, DeFalco & Capel 2009, Western 2009, Bowles et al 2010, Miles & Western 2012, Souquet et al 2012, Spiller et al 2012, Miles et al 2013. Although poorly understood, these signalling mechanisms are associated with important changes in gene expression profiles, including the repression of genes that regulate pluripotency (e.g.…”

Section: R39mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine-tuning evolution: germ-line epigenetics and inheritance

2013

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In mice, epiblast cells found both the germ-line and somatic lineages in the developing embryo. These epiblast cells carry epigenetic information from both parents that is required for development and cell function in the fetus and during post-natal life. However, germ cells must establish an epigenetic program that supports totipotency and the configuration of parent-specific epigenetic states in the gametes. To achieve this, the epigenetic information inherited by the primordial germ cells at specification is erased and new epigenetic states are established during development of the male and female germ-lines. Errors in this process can lead to transmission of epimutations through the germ-line, which have the potential to affect development and disease in the parent's progeny. This review discusses epigenetic reprogramming in the germ-line and the transmission of epigenetic information to the following generation.Reproduction (2013) 146 R37-R48

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Gonad Morphogenesis in Vertebrates: Divergent Means to a Convergent End

Cited by 152 publications

References 140 publications

Germ cells are not the primary factor for sexual fate determination in goldfish

Germ cells are not the primary factor for sexual fate determination in goldfish

Role of Platelet-Derived Growth Factors in the Testis

Fine-tuning evolution: germ-line epigenetics and inheritance

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