The germ cell history of Rana cantabrigensis baird

Gonadal morphogenesis in the South American toad Rhinella Arenarum (Anura, Bufonidae) unveils an extremely delayed rate of sex differentiation

Among anurans, Bufonids are recognized for their retarded sex differentiation. However, few studies have addressed gonadal morphogenesis in this family. Here, we analyzed the early gonadogenesis in laboratory-reared Rhinella arenarum. Few germ cells were identified in the genital ridge at Gosner stage 26. At metamorphosis, somatic cells and germ cells were observed in the outer region of the undifferentiated gonad, whereas the central region was occupied by stromal tissue. A cortico-medullary organization was first recognized on Day 7 postmetamorphosis. The cortex was composed of germ cells and encompassing epithelial cells, whereas the medulla contained cells presumptively derived from the coelomic epithelium. Medullary somatic cells formed metameric knots along the length of the undifferentiated gonad. Consequently, a series of 12-14 gonomeres became recognizable externally. The first sign of ovarian differentiation was observed on Day 15 postmetamorphosis, when a cavity was formed within each gonomere. In contrast, testes were recognized by a uniform distribution of germ cells and intermingled somatic cells, as the division into cortex and medulla was lost. By Day 50 postmetamorphosis, the gonadal metameric organization was still apparent both in the ovaries and testes. Follicles containing diplotene oocytes were observed within the ovary. In the testis, an incipient lobular architecture was recognized without initiation of meiosis within the seminiferous cords. These observations reveal an extremely delayed gonadal development in R. arenarum, not reported previously for other anuran species. In addition, the late differentiation of the gonads contrasted with the early appearance of follicles in the Bidder's organ. Lastly, we observed that delayed metamorphs exhibited an undifferentiated gonad, demonstrating that gonadogenesis in this species is more dependent on somatic development than on age.

Development of Xenopus laevis bipotential gonads into testis or ovary is driven by sex-specific cell-cell interactions, proliferation rate, cell migration and deposition of extracellular matrix

Information on the mechanisms orchestrating sexual differentiation of the bipotential gonads into testes or ovaries in amphibians is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the development of Xenopus laevis gonad, to identify the earliest signs of sexual differentiation, and to describe mechanisms driving these processes. We used light and electron microscopy, immunofluorescence and cell tracing. In order to identify the earliest signs of sexual differentiation the sex of each tadpole was determined using genotyping with the sex markers. Our analysis revealed a series of events participating in the gonadal development, including cell proliferation, migration, cell adhesion, stroma penetration, and basal lamina formation. We found that during the period of sexual differentiation the sites of intensive cell proliferation and migration differ between male and female gonads. In the differentiating ovaries the germ cells remain associated with the gonadal surface epithelium (cortex) and a sterile medulla forms in the ovarian center, whereas in the differentiating testes the germ cells detach from the surface epithelium, disperse, and the cortex and medulla fuse. Cell junctions that are more abundant in the ovarian cortex possibly can favor the persistence of germ cells in the cortex. Also the stroma penetrates the female and male gonads differently. These finding indicate that the crosstalk between the stroma and the coelomic epithelium-derived cells is crucial for development of male and female gonad.

Pattern and rate of ovary differentiation with reference to somatic development in anuran amphibians

The rate of somatic development of anuran amphibians is only roughly correlated with the rate of gonad differentiation and varies among species. The somatic stage of a tadpole often does not reflect its age, which seems to be crucial for gonad differentiation rate. We compared the morphology and differentiation of developing ovaries at the light and electron microscopy level, with reference to somatic growth and age of a female. Our observations were performed on 12 species of six families (Rana lessonae, R. ridibunda, R. temporaria, R. arvalis, R. pipiens, R. catesbeiana, Bombina bombina, Hyla arborea, Bufo bufo. B. viridis, Xenopus laevis, Pelobates fuscus) and compared with the results obtained by other authors. This allowed us to describe the unified pattern of anuran female gonad differentiation. Ovary differentiation was divided into 10 stages: I-III, undifferentiated gonad; IV, sexual differentiation; V, first nests of meiocytes; VI, first diplotene oocytes; VII-IX, increasing number of diplotene oocytes and decreasing number of oogonia and nests; X, fully developed ovary composed of diplotene oocytes with rudimental patches of oogonia. We distinguished three types of ovary differentiation rate: basic (most species), retarded (genus Bufo), and accelerated (green frogs of the subgenus Pelophylax genus Rana).

Pattern of gonadal sex differentiation, development, and onset of steroidogenesis in the frog, Rana curtipes

Histomorphological changes and steroidogenic potential of the gonads during sexual differentiation and development were studied in Rana curtipes from tadpole stage 25 (Gosner) until maturity. In stage 25 tadpoles of smaller snout-vent length (SVL; 4-5 mm) the gonads were indifferent, containing a few somatic and germ cells, whereas in larger tadpoles (SVL > 7 mm) gonads were differentiated into ovaries with a central lumen. Onset of meiosis was seen in these ovaries. At stage 26, diplotene and first growth phase oocytes were found. With advancement in developmental stage and after metamorphosis the ovaries progressively enlarged due to increase in number and size of oocytes. Vitellogenesis began in the ovary of 4-month-old frogs. Females attained maturity 6 months after metamorphosis. The frogs showed amplexus and one frog spawned. Onset of testicular formation seen at stage 31 was associated with the degeneration of oocytes and infiltration of darkly stained somatic cells in the central region. By stage 35 all oocytes degenerated, leaving behind a large number of somatic and germ cells interspersed with each other. At stage 38, formation of seminiferous tubules enclosing spermatogonia and pre-Sertoli cells was seen. Initiation of meiosis was evident at metamorphic climax. Cysts of elongated spermatids associated with Sertoli cells were seen in 45-day-old frogs. Histochemically, delta(5)-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was localized in the ooplasm, follicular cells, and interstitium of the ovary from stage 28 onward. The enzyme activity in the testis appeared in 45-day-old froglets. In R. curtipes gonadal differentiation is a semidifferentiated type since gonads initially differentiate into ovaries, and later, in the prospective males, the ovaries degenerate and transform into testes. The males attain maturity much earlier than the females. In R. curtipes gonadal sex differentiation precedes the onset of gonadal steroidogenesis.

Sex differentiation and early gonadal development in Bombina orientalis (anura: Discoglossidae)

Gonadal differentiation in premetamorphic Bombina orientalis is described and staged. The pattern of events during differentiation in Bombina differs in several respects from that previously described in other anurans. The Bombina gonad initially develops on the ventral surface of the vena cava, where there is no pre-existent somatic genital ridge prior to the arrival of the germ cells. The sexually undifferentiated gonad does not have a distinct cortex and medulla; instead, medullary cells ingress from the mesonephric blastema during sexual differentiation. Formation of a testis or an ovary appears to depend on the ability (or lack of ability) of the medulla to invade the germ cell-containing cortex. In the germ line, sexual differetiation can be recognized by a premeiotic increase in oogonial cell volume.