SMARCE1 Promotes chicken embryonic gonad development by regulating ER α and AR expression

SMARCE1 is one of some differentially expressed genes screened from a subtracted cDNA library between females and males during the period of sex differentiation. To understand the potential role of SMARCE1 in avian sex determination and differentiation, over-expression of SMARCE1 was performed in chicken embryos using the RCASBP.B retrovirus. Results showed that SMARCE1 expression was up-regulated in the infected embryonic gonads at the investigated stages (E6.5-E12.5) assessed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, whole mount in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. With the over-expression of SMARCE1, CYP19A1, FOXL2, ERα, and SOX9 expression was significantly up-regulated while AR expression was significantly decreased in the male and/or female chicken gonad. Nevertheless, DMRT1 and AMH expression was not changed after the over-expression of SMARCE1. It is proposed that it might be via the SMARCE1-FOXL2 pathway that CYP19A1 expression was activated, and DMRT1 expression may be independent of the SMARCE1-SOX9 pathway. Meanwhile, the SMARCE1-AR pathway might be antagonized by up-regulated expression of ERα via estrogen-ER/androgen-AR signaling. The results of HE staining showed that the ovarian cortex was thickened and both testis seminiferous cord and interstitial cells were increased with the over-expression of SMARCE1. In conclusion, SMARCE1 can promote chicken embryonic gonad development by regulating the ERα and AR expression.