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The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness

The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness

The Y chromosome is a sex chromosome found in several vertebrates and mammals, including humans. In addition to 22 pairs of autosomes, the human males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. In these organisms, the presence or absence of the Y chromosome determines the development of male traits.
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....

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Using Ex Vivo Upright Droplet Cultures of Whole Fetal Organs to Study Developmental Processes during Mouse Organogenesis

Using Ex Vivo Upright Droplet Cultures of Whole Fetal Organs to Study Developmental Processes during Mouse Organogenesis

Published on: October 21, 2015

Testosterone Exposure During Fetal Masculinization Programming Window Determines the Kidney Size in Adult Mice.

Arttu Junnila¹, Kalle T Rytkönen^1,2, Guillermo Martinez-Nieto¹

¹Institute of Biomedicine, Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.

FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

|April 4, 2026

Summary

Fetal androgen deficiency in male mice reduces adult kidney size and growth. Testosterone supplementation during development restored normal kidney size, indicating a critical programming window.

Keywords:

AR HNF4A IGFBP5 kidney growth masculinization programming window testosterone

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Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Published on: October 13, 2018

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Developmental Biology
Nephrology

Background:

Kidney size exhibits sexual dimorphism in adults, influenced by androgens.
The impact of developmental androgen deficiency on kidney programming is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hypothesis that androgens program kidney growth during fetal development.
To determine the effects of developmental androgen deficiency on male kidney development and adult function.

Main Methods:

Utilized Hsd17b3 knockout mice, which have a deficiency in testosterone production.
Administered testosterone supplementation during specific embryonic periods (E14.5-17.5).
Analyzed kidney size, nephron development, glomeruli number, and proximal tubule proliferation and size in adult mice.

Main Results:

Male Hsd17b3 knockout mice exhibited reduced testosterone during a critical fetal window (E15.5-18.5), leading to smaller adult kidneys.
Nephron development was normal, but glomeruli number and proximal tubule proliferation/size were reduced in knockout males.
Testosterone supplementation during fetal development normalized kidney size in adult knockout males.

Conclusions:

Fetal androgen deficiency programs reduced kidney growth and androgen responsiveness in adult males.
Androgen receptor and HNF4A signaling pathways are implicated in mediating male-specific fetal kidney growth.
This study identifies a novel mechanism of developmental programming affecting male kidney development.