Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Dissection of Larval Zebrafish Gonadal Tissue
Published on: April 26, 2017
[The regulation of gonadal somatic cell differentiation during sex determination in mice]
Chang-Huo Cen1, Min Chen2, Lin Jiang1
1Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China.
Abstract:
In mammals, the gonad is composed of germ cells and somatic cells. The gonads have the potential of bidirectional differentiation before sex determination. The differentiation of somatic cells in the gonad determines the development of testis or ovary, and this process is regulated by many factors. SRY, SOX9, SOX3, SOX8, SOX10, FGF9/FGFR2, PGD2, AMH, and DMRT1 are involved in the differentiation of testis. By contrast, FOXL2, CTNNB1, RSPO1, WNT4, Follistatin, ERα/β, and BMP2 play important roles in ovary development. If these molecular regulatory networks are damaged by endogenous or exogenous factors, disorders of sex differentiation, even sex reversal, will occur. In this review, the regulation of somatic cell fate during gonad primordium formation and sex determination in mouse model was discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus
Near the gonadal ridges, two duct systems are present: the mesonephric ducts (Wolffian ducts) and paramesonephric ducts (Müllerian ducts). These ducts form the basis for the...
The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size....
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female...
Dosage Compensation
In addition to sexual development, the X chromosome has genes involved in autosomal functions such as brain development and the immune system. Therefore, males and females with distinct numbers of X chromosomes will...
Master Transcription Regulators
X and Y Chromosomes
The germline cells such as egg and sperm cells carry only half the number of chromosomes, i.e., 22 autosomes and one sex chromosome. All eggs have an X chromosome, while sperm cells can carry an X or...

