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Females battle to suppress their inner male

Andrew Sinclair1, Craig Smith

  • 1Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia. andrew.sinclair@mcri.edu.au

Cell
|December 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Deleting the Foxl2 gene in adult female mice triggers ovary-to-testis transdifferentiation. This suggests testicular development is actively suppressed in females throughout life.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Developmental biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The ovary and testis are traditionally considered terminally differentiated organs in adult mammals.
  • Limited understanding exists regarding the potential for cellular plasticity in adult mammalian reproductive organs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the Foxl2 gene in maintaining ovarian identity in adult mice.
  • To explore the potential for transdifferentiation between ovarian and testicular fates.

Main Methods:

  • Gene deletion studies using adult female mice.
  • Analysis of ovarian and testicular tissue morphology and gene expression post-Foxl2 deletion.

Main Results:

  • Deletion of the Foxl2 gene induced a remarkable transdifferentiation of the ovary into a testis-like structure.
  • The study identified Foxl2 as a crucial factor in repressing male developmental pathways in the adult ovary.

Conclusions:

  • The ovary is not terminally differentiated and can be reprogrammed into a testis.
  • Foxl2 plays a critical role in actively suppressing testicular development in adult females, challenging established dogma.

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