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Hahn EE, Stiller J, Alexander MR, Grealy A, Taylor JM, Jackson N, Frere CH, Holleley CE. Century-old chromatin architecture revealed in formalin-fixed vertebrates. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6378. [PMID: 39075073 PMCID: PMC11286846 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50668-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene expression is regulated by changes in chromatin architecture intrinsic to cellular differentiation and as an active response to environmental stimuli. Chromatin dynamics are a major driver of phenotypic diversity, regulation of development, and manifestation of disease. Remarkably, we know little about the evolutionary dynamics of chromatin reorganisation through time, data essential to characterise the impact of environmental stress during the ongoing biodiversity extinction crisis (20th-21st century). Linking the disparate fields of chromatin biology and museum science through their common use of the preservative formaldehyde (a constituent of formalin), we have generated historical chromatin profiles in museum specimens up to 117 years old. Historical chromatin profiles are reproducible, tissue-specific, sex-specific, and environmental condition-dependent in vertebrate specimens. Additionally, we show that over-fixation modulates differential chromatin accessibility to enable semi-quantitative estimates of relative gene expression in vertebrates and a yeast model. Our approach transforms formalin-fixed biological collections into an accurate, comprehensive, and global record of environmental impact on gene expression and phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Hahn
- National Research Collections Australia, Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Jiri Stiller
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, St Lucia, Queensland, 4067, Australia
| | - Marina R Alexander
- National Research Collections Australia, Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Alicia Grealy
- National Research Collections Australia, Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Jennifer M Taylor
- Agriculture and Food, Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, St Lucia, Queensland, 4067, Australia
| | - Nicola Jackson
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4067, Australia
| | - Celine H Frere
- School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4067, Australia
| | - Clare E Holleley
- National Research Collections Australia, Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
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Chen A, Zhao X, Zhao X, Wang G, Zhang X, Ren X, Zhang Y, Cheng X, Yu X, Wang H, Guo M, Jiang X, Mei X, Wei G, Wang X, Jiang R, Guo X, Ning Z, Qu L. Genetic Foundation of Male Spur Length and Its Correlation with Female Egg Production in Chickens. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1780. [PMID: 38929399 PMCID: PMC11200594 DOI: 10.3390/ani14121780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Spurs, which mainly appear in roosters, are protrusions near the tarsometatarsus on both sides of the calves of chickens, and are connected to the tarsometatarsus by a bony core. As a male-biased morphological characteristic, the diameter and length of spurs vary significantly between different individuals, mainly related to genetics and age. As a specific behavior of hens, egg-laying also varies greatly between individuals in terms of traits such as age at first egg (AFE), egg weight (EW), and so on. At present, there are few studies on chicken spurs. In this study, we investigated the inheritance pattern of the spur trait in roosters with different phenotypes and the correlations between spur length, body weight at 18 weeks of age (BW18), shank length at 18 weeks of age (SL18), and the egg-laying trait in hens (both hens and roosters were from the same population and were grouped according to their family). These traits related to egg production included AFE, body weight at first egg (BWA), and first egg weight (FEW). We estimated genetic parameters based on pedigree and phenotype data, and used variance analysis to calculate broad-sense heritability for correcting the parameter estimation results. The results showed that the heritability of male left and right spurs ranged from 0.6 to 0.7. There were significant positive correlations between left and right spur length, BW18, SL18, and BWA, as well as between left and right spur length and AFE. We selected 35 males with the longest spurs and 35 males with the shortest spurs in the population, and pooled them into two sets to obtain the pooled genome sequencing data. After genome-wide association and genome divergency analysis by FST, allele frequency differences (AFDs), and XPEHH methods, we identified 7 overlapping genes (CENPE, FAT1, FAM149A, MANBA, NFKB1, SORBS2, UBE2D3) and 14 peak genes (SAMD12, TSPAN5, ENSGALG00000050071, ENSGALG00000053133, ENSGALG00000050348, CNTN5, TRPC6, ENSGALG00000047655,TMSB4X, LIX1, CKB, NEBL, PRTFDC1, MLLT10) related to left and right spur length through genome-wide selection signature analysis and a genome-wide association approach. Our results identified candidate genes associated with chicken spurs, which helps to understand the genetic mechanism of this trait and carry out subsequent research around it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqi Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Xiaoyu Zhao
- Xingrui Agricultural Stock Breeding, Baoding 072550, China;
| | - Xiurong Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Gang Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Xinye Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Xufang Ren
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Yalan Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Xue Cheng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Xiaofan Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Huie Wang
- Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China;
| | - Menghan Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Xiaoyu Jiang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Xiaohan Mei
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Guozhen Wei
- Qingliu Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Aquatic Products Center, Sanming 365501, China;
| | - Xue Wang
- VVBK Animal Medical Diagnostic Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100199, China;
| | - Runshen Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; (R.J.); (X.G.)
| | - Xing Guo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; (R.J.); (X.G.)
| | - Zhonghua Ning
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
| | - Lujiang Qu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (A.C.); (X.Z.); (G.W.); (X.Z.); (X.R.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.); (X.Y.); (M.G.); (X.J.); (X.M.); (Z.N.)
- Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China;
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Zhang X, Li J, Chen S, Yang N, Zheng J. Overview of Avian Sex Reversal. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098284. [PMID: 37175998 PMCID: PMC10179413 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex determination and differentiation are processes by which a bipotential gonad adopts either a testicular or ovarian cell fate, and secondary sexual characteristics adopt either male or female developmental patterns. In birds, although genetic factors control the sex determination program, sex differentiation is sensitive to hormones, which can induce sex reversal when disturbed. Although these sex-reversed birds can form phenotypes opposite to their genotypes, none can experience complete sex reversal or produce offspring under natural conditions. Promising evidence indicates that the incomplete sex reversal is associated with cell autonomous sex identity (CASI) of avian cells, which is controlled by genetic factors. However, studies cannot clearly describe the regulatory mechanism of avian CASI and sex development at present, and these factors require further exploration. In spite of this, the abundant findings of avian sex research have provided theoretical bases for the progress of gender control technologies, which are being improved through interdisciplinary co-operation and will ultimately be employed in poultry production. In this review, we provide an overview of avian sex determination and differentiation and comprehensively summarize the research progress on sex reversal in birds, especially chickens. Importantly, we describe key issues faced by applying gender control systems in poultry production and chronologically summarize the development of avian sex control methods. In conclusion, this review provides unique perspectives for avian sex studies and helps scientists develop more advanced systems for sex regulation in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuan Zhang
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jianbo Li
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Sirui Chen
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiangxia Zheng
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Clinton M, Zhao D. Avian Sex Determination: A Chicken and Egg Conundrum. Sex Dev 2023; 17:120-133. [PMID: 36796340 PMCID: PMC10659007 DOI: 10.1159/000529754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary sex determination is the developmental process that results in the sexual differentiation of the gonads. Vertebrate sex determination is generally considered to follow the model based on the mammalian system, where a sex-specific master regulatory gene activates one of the two different gene networks that underlie testis and ovary differentiation. SUMMARY It is now known that, while many of the molecular components of these pathways are conserved across different vertebrates, a wide variety of different trigger factors are utilized to initiate primary sex determination. In birds, the male is the homogametic sex (ZZ), and significant differences exist between the avian system of sex determination and that of mammals. For example, DMRT1, FOXL2, and estrogen are key factors in gonadogenesis in birds, but none are essential for primary sex determination in mammals. KEY MESSAGE Gonadal sex determination in birds is thought to depend on a dosage-based mechanism involving expression of the Z-linked DMRT1 gene, and it may be that this "mechanism" is simply an extension of the cell autonomous sex identity associated with avian tissues, with no sex-specific trigger required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Clinton
- Roslin Institute Chicken Embryology (RICE) Group, Gene Function and Development, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, UK
| | - Debiao Zhao
- Roslin Institute Chicken Embryology (RICE) Group, Gene Function and Development, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, UK
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Cheng Y, Zhang Z, Zhang G, Chen L, Zeng C, Liu X, Feng Y. The Male-Biased Expression of miR-2954 Is Involved in the Male Pathway of Chicken Sex Differentiation. Cells 2022; 12:cells12010004. [PMID: 36611798 PMCID: PMC9818168 DOI: 10.3390/cells12010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Many expression data showed miRNAs have a potential function on regulating gonadal differentiation in animals, but their function is rarely studied in vivo, especially in chickens. Using the comprehensive expression profiles analysis, the specific male-biased miR-2954, which is significantly higher expressed in male embryos and gonads at all detected stages, was firstly screened during the early stages of chicken embryogenesis and gonadogenesis. In sex-reversed female gonads treated with aromatase inhibitors, the expression of miR-2954 was increased, which was consistent with the up-regulation of DMRT1 and SOX9. The injection of vivo-morpholino of miR-2954 significantly inhibited the expression of miR-2954 in chicken embryos, and the down-regulation of miR-2954 decreased the expression of testis-associated genes DMRT1 and SOX9, while the expression of ovary-associated genes and the gonadal morphology did not change obviously. These results confirm that miR-2954 coincides with testicular differentiation in chicken embryos, but whether it might be an upstream cell autonomous factor to sex development in birds still need to be further determined.
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Smirnov AF, Leoke DY, Trukhina AV. Natural and Experimental Sex Reversal in Birds and Other Groups of Vertebrates, with the Exception of Mammals. RUSS J GENET+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795422060114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Chen C, Zhou S, Lian Z, Jiang J, Gao X, Hu C, Zuo Q, Zhang Y, Chen G, Jin K, Li B. Tle4z1 Facilitate the Male Sexual Differentiation of Chicken Embryos. Front Physiol 2022; 13:856980. [PMID: 35464085 PMCID: PMC9022655 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.856980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sex differentiation is a complex and precisely regulated process by multiple genes in chicken. However, it is still unclear on the key genes of sex differentiation. Objective To explore the function of Tle4z1 screened by RNA-seq sequencing on sex differentiation during the development of chicken embryos. Methods Tle4z1 was differentially expressed from the RNA-seq of ESCs and PGCs in male and female chickens. Then, we established an effective method to overexpression or knocking down the expression of Tle4z1 in ovo and in vitro, respectively. Histomorphological observation, qRT-PCR and ELISA were applied to detect the function of Tle4z1 in the process of male sex differentiation by injecting vectors into embryos at day 0. Results It showed that Tle4z1 has significant male preference in embryonic day 4.5, such phenomenon persisted during the growth period of chicken embryos. Morphological observation results showed that the gonads on both sides of genetic male (ZZ) embryos with Tle4z1 knocking down developed asymmetrically, the gonadal cortex became thicker showing the typical characteristics of genetic female (ZW) gonads. Furthermore, the expression of Cyp19a1, which dominates female differentiation, was significantly increased, while the expression of male marker genes Dmrt1, Sox9, WT1 and AR was significantly downregulated. In addition, the concentration of testosterone also significantly decreased, which was positively correlated with the expression of Tle4z1 (P < 0.01). Conversely, the ZW embryo showed defeminized development when Tle4z1 was overexpressed. Conclusion We prove that the Tle4z1 is a novel gene through the male sexual differentiation via gene regulation process and synthesis of testosterone, which construct the basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of sex differentiation in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Shujian Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ziyi Lian
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jingyi Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiaomin Gao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Cai Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qisheng Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yani Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guohong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kai Jin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Kai Jin,
| | - Bichun Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- College of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
- Bichun Li,
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Shen L, Yu J, Ge Y, Li H, Li Y, Cao Z, Luan P, Xiao F, Gao H, Zhang H. Associations of Transcription Factor 21 Gene Polymorphisms with the Growth and Body Composition Traits in Broilers. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12030393. [PMID: 35158719 PMCID: PMC8833368 DOI: 10.3390/ani12030393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The functional SNPs discovered in this work will give helpful information on the crucial molecular markers that may be employed in breeding efforts to improve the heart development of broiler chickens. Abstract This study aims to identify molecular marker loci that could be applied in broiler breeding programs. In this study, we used public databases to locate the Transcription factor 21 (TCF21) gene that affected the economically important traits in broilers. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in the TCF21 gene by monoclonal sequencing. The polymorphisms of these 10 SNPs in the TCF21 gene were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with multiple growth and body composition traits. Furthermore, the TT genotype of g.-911T>G was identified to significantly increase the heart weight trait without affecting the negative traits, such as abdominal fat and reproduction by multiple methods. Thus, it was speculated that the g.-911T>G identified in the TCF21 gene might be used in marker-assisted selection in the broiler breeding program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyong Shen
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.S.); (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Z.C.); (P.L.)
| | - Jiaqiang Yu
- Forest Investigating and Planning Institute of Daxinganling, Yakshi 022150, China;
| | - Yaowen Ge
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.S.); (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Z.C.); (P.L.)
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.S.); (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Z.C.); (P.L.)
| | - Yumao Li
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.S.); (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Z.C.); (P.L.)
| | - Zhiping Cao
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.S.); (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Z.C.); (P.L.)
| | - Peng Luan
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.S.); (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Z.C.); (P.L.)
| | - Fan Xiao
- Fujian Sunnzer Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd., Nanping 354100, China; (F.X.); (H.G.)
| | - Haihe Gao
- Fujian Sunnzer Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd., Nanping 354100, China; (F.X.); (H.G.)
| | - Hui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China; (L.S.); (Y.G.); (H.L.); (Y.L.); (Z.C.); (P.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-451-55191486
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Estermann MA, Major AT, Smith CA. Genetic Regulation of Avian Testis Development. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1459. [PMID: 34573441 PMCID: PMC8470383 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As in other vertebrates, avian testes are the site of spermatogenesis and androgen production. The paired testes of birds differentiate during embryogenesis, first marked by the development of pre-Sertoli cells in the gonadal primordium and their condensation into seminiferous cords. Germ cells become enclosed in these cords and enter mitotic arrest, while steroidogenic Leydig cells subsequently differentiate around the cords. This review describes our current understanding of avian testis development at the cell biology and genetic levels. Most of this knowledge has come from studies on the chicken embryo, though other species are increasingly being examined. In chicken, testis development is governed by the Z-chromosome-linked DMRT1 gene, which directly or indirectly activates the male factors, HEMGN, SOX9 and AMH. Recent single cell RNA-seq has defined cell lineage specification during chicken testis development, while comparative studies point to deep conservation of avian testis formation. Lastly, we identify areas of future research on the genetics of avian testis development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Craig Allen Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia; (M.A.E.); (A.T.M.)
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Lee HJ, Seo M, Choi HJ, Rengaraj D, Jung KM, Park JS, Lee KY, Kim YM, Park KJ, Han ST, Lee KH, Yao HHC, Han JY. DMRT1 gene disruption alone induces incomplete gonad feminization in chicken. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21876. [PMID: 34449112 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100902r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Compared with the well-described XY sex determination system in mammals, the avian ZW sex determination system is poorly understood. Knockdown and overexpression studies identified doublesex and mab-3-related transcription factor 1 (DMRT1) as the testis-determining gene in chicken. However, the detailed effects of DMRT1 gene disruption from embryonic to adult development are not clear. Herein, we have generated DMRT1-disrupted chickens using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 system, followed by an analysis of physiological, hormonal, and molecular changes in the genome-modified chickens. In the early stages of male chicken development, disruption of DMRT1 induced gonad feminization with extensive physiological and molecular changes; however, functional feminine reproductivity could not be implemented with disturbed hormone synthesis. Subsequent RNA-sequencing analysis of the DMRT1-disrupted chicken gonads revealed gene networks, including several novel genes linearly and non-linearly associated with DMRT1, which are involved in gonad feminization. By comparing the gonads of wild type with the genome-modified chickens, a set of genes were identified that is involved in the ZW sex determination system independent of DMRT1. Our results extend beyond the Z-dosage hypothesis to provide further information about the avian ZW sex determination system and epigenetic effects of gonad feminization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Jo Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Minseok Seo
- Department of Computer Convergence Software, Korea University, Sejong Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jung Choi
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Deivendran Rengaraj
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyung Min Jung
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Se Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyung Youn Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Min Kim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyung Je Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Soo Taek Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyu Hyuk Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Humphrey Hung-Chang Yao
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jae Yong Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
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11
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Choe HN, Jarvis ED. The role of sex chromosomes and sex hormones in vocal learning systems. Horm Behav 2021; 132:104978. [PMID: 33895570 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.104978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Vocal learning is the ability to imitate and modify sounds through auditory experience, a rare trait found in only a few lineages of mammals and birds. It is a critical component of human spoken language, allowing us to verbally transmit speech repertoires and knowledge across generations. In many vocal learning species, the vocal learning trait is sexually dimorphic, where it is either limited to males or present in both sexes to different degrees. In humans, recent findings have revealed subtle sexual dimorphism in vocal learning/spoken language brain regions and some associated disorders. For songbirds, where the neural mechanisms of vocal learning have been well studied, vocal learning appears to have been present in both sexes at the origin of the lineage and was then independently lost in females of some subsequent lineages. This loss is associated with an interplay between sex chromosomes and sex steroid hormones. Even in species with little dimorphism, like humans, sex chromosomes and hormones still have some influence on learned vocalizations. Here we present a brief synthesis of these studies, in the context of sex determination broadly, and identify areas of needed investigation to further understand how sex chromosomes and sex steroid hormones help establish sexually dimorphic neural structures for vocal learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Na Choe
- Duke University Medical Center, The Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, United States of America.
| | - Erich D Jarvis
- Duke University Medical Center, The Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, United States of America.
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12
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Piferrer F, Anastasiadi D. Do the Offspring of Sex Reversals Have Higher Sensitivity to Environmental Perturbations? Sex Dev 2021; 15:134-147. [PMID: 33910195 DOI: 10.1159/000515192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex determination systems in vertebrates vary along a continuum from genetic (GSD) to environmental sex determination (ESD). Individuals that show a sexual phenotype opposite to their genotypic sex are called sex reversals. Aside from genetic elements, temperature, sex steroids, and exogenous chemicals are common factors triggering sex reversal, a phenomenon that may occur even in strict GSD species. In this paper, we review the literature on instances of sex reversal in fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. We focus on the offspring of sex-reversed parents in the instances that they can be produced, and show that in all cases studied the offspring of these sex-reversed parents exhibit a higher sensitivity to environmental perturbations than the offspring of non-sex-reversed parents. We suggest that the inheritance of this sensitivity, aside from possible genetic factors, is likely to be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, since these mechanisms are responsive to environmental cues, and epigenetic modifications can be transmitted to the subsequent generations. Species with a chromosomal GSD system with environmental sensitivity and availability of genetic sex markers should be employed to further test whether offspring of sex-reversed parents have greater sensitivity to environmental perturbations. Future studies could also benefit from detailed whole-genome data in order to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the consequences of such higher sensitivity in the context of global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesc Piferrer
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dafni Anastasiadi
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Nelson, New Zealand
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13
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Smith CA, Major AT, Estermann MA. The Curious Case of Avian Sex Determination. Trends Genet 2021; 37:496-497. [PMID: 33838938 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Ioannidis and colleagues show that the gene DMRT1 is the master regulator of testis development in the chicken. Yet, remarkably, when this gene is deleted in genetic males and gonads form ovaries, the body remains male. This debunks the notion that somatic sex is driven primarily by hormones in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig A Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Andrew T Major
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Martin A Estermann
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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14
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Ioannidis J, Taylor G, Zhao D, Liu L, Idoko-Akoh A, Gong D, Lovell-Badge R, Guioli S, McGrew MJ, Clinton M. Primary sex determination in birds depends on DMRT1 dosage, but gonadal sex does not determine adult secondary sex characteristics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2020909118. [PMID: 33658372 PMCID: PMC7958228 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2020909118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In birds, males are the homogametic sex (ZZ) and females the heterogametic sex (ZW). Primary sex determination is thought to depend on a sex chromosome gene dosage mechanism, and the most likely sex determinant is the Z chromosome gene Doublesex and Mab-3-Related Transcription factor 1 (DMRT1). To clarify this issue, we used a CRISPR-Cas9-based monoallelic targeting approach and sterile surrogate hosts to generate birds with targeted mutations in the DMRT1 gene. The resulting chromosomally male (ZZ) chicken with a single functional copy of DMRT1 developed ovaries in place of testes, demonstrating the avian sex-determining mechanism is based on DMRT1 dosage. These ZZ ovaries expressed typical female markers and showed clear evidence of follicular development. However, these ZZ adult birds with an ovary in place of testes were indistinguishable in appearance to wild-type adult males, supporting the concept of cell-autonomous sex identity (CASI) in birds. In experiments where estrogen synthesis was blocked in control ZW embryos, the resulting gonads developed as testes. In contrast, if estrogen synthesis was blocked in ZW embryos that lacked DMRT1, the gonads invariably adopted an ovarian fate. Our analysis shows that DMRT1 is the key sex determination switch in birds and that it is essential for testis development, but that production of estrogen is also a key factor in primary sex determination in chickens, and that this production is linked to DMRT1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Ioannidis
- Division of Functional Genomics and Development, The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, EH25 9RG Midlothian, United Kingdom;
| | - Gunes Taylor
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London, United Kingdom
| | - Debiao Zhao
- Division of Functional Genomics and Development, The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, EH25 9RG Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Long Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, 225009 Yangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Alewo Idoko-Akoh
- Division of Functional Genomics and Development, The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, EH25 9RG Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Daoqing Gong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, 225009 Yangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Robin Lovell-Badge
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London, United Kingdom
| | - Silvana Guioli
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London, United Kingdom
| | - Mike J McGrew
- Division of Functional Genomics and Development, The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, EH25 9RG Midlothian, United Kingdom;
| | - Michael Clinton
- Division of Functional Genomics and Development, The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, EH25 9RG Midlothian, United Kingdom
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15
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Shioda K, Odajima J, Kobayashi M, Kobayashi M, Cordazzo B, Isselbacher KJ, Shioda T. Transcriptomic and Epigenetic Preservation of Genetic Sex Identity in Estrogen-feminized Male Chicken Embryonic Gonads. Endocrinology 2021; 162:5973467. [PMID: 33170207 PMCID: PMC7745639 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Whereas in ovo exposure of genetically male (ZZ) chicken embryos to exogenous estrogens temporarily feminizes gonads at the time of hatching, the morphologically ovarian ZZ-gonads (FemZZs for feminized ZZ gonads) are masculinized back to testes within 1 year. To identify the feminization-resistant "memory" of genetic male sex, FemZZs showing varying degrees of feminization were subjected to transcriptomic, DNA methylome, and immunofluorescence analyses. Protein-coding genes were classified based on their relative mRNA expression across normal ZZ-testes, genetically female (ZW) ovaries, and FemZZs. We identified a group of 25 genes that were strongly expressed in both ZZ-testes and FemZZs but dramatically suppressed in ZW-ovaries. Interestingly, 84% (21/25) of these feminization-resistant testicular marker genes, including the DMRT1 master masculinizing gene, were located in chromosome Z. Expression of representative marker genes of germline cells (eg, DAZL or DDX4/VASA) was stronger in FemZZs than normal ZZ-testes or ZW-ovaries. We also identified 231 repetitive sequences (RSs) that were strongly expressed in both ZZ-testes and FemZZs, but these RSs were not enriched in chromosome Z. Although 94% (165/176) of RSs exclusively expressed in ZW-ovaries were located in chromosome W, no feminization-inducible RS was detected in FemZZs. DNA methylome analysis distinguished FemZZs from normal ZZ- and ZW-gonads. Immunofluorescence analysis of FemZZ gonads revealed expression of DMRT1 protein in medullary SOX9+ somatic cells and apparent germline cell populations in both medulla and cortex. Taken together, our study provides evidence that both somatic and germline cell populations in morphologically feminized FemZZs maintain significant transcriptomic and epigenetic memories of genetic sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Shioda
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Junko Odajima
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Misato Kobayashi
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mutsumi Kobayashi
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bianca Cordazzo
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kurt J Isselbacher
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Toshi Shioda
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Correspondence: Toshi Shioda, Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Cancer Research, Building 149 – 7th Floor, 13th Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA. E-mail:
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16
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Nagahama Y, Chakraborty T, Paul-Prasanth B, Ohta K, Nakamura M. Sex determination, gonadal sex differentiation, and plasticity in vertebrate species. Physiol Rev 2020; 101:1237-1308. [PMID: 33180655 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00044.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A diverse array of sex determination (SD) mechanisms, encompassing environmental to genetic, have been found to exist among vertebrates, covering a spectrum from fixed SD mechanisms (mammals) to functional sex change in fishes (sequential hermaphroditic fishes). A major landmark in vertebrate SD was the discovery of the SRY gene in 1990. Since that time, many attempts to clone an SRY ortholog from nonmammalian vertebrates remained unsuccessful, until 2002, when DMY/dmrt1by was discovered as the SD gene of a small fish, medaka. Surprisingly, however, DMY/dmrt1by was found in only 2 species among more than 20 species of medaka, suggesting a large diversity of SD genes among vertebrates. Considerable progress has been made over the last 3 decades, such that it is now possible to formulate reasonable paradigms of how SD and gonadal sex differentiation may work in some model vertebrate species. This review outlines our current understanding of vertebrate SD and gonadal sex differentiation, with a focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved. An impressive number of genes and factors have been discovered that play important roles in testicular and ovarian differentiation. An antagonism between the male and female pathway genes exists in gonads during both sex differentiation and, surprisingly, even as adults, suggesting that, in addition to sex-changing fishes, gonochoristic vertebrates including mice maintain some degree of gonadal sexual plasticity into adulthood. Importantly, a review of various SD mechanisms among vertebrates suggests that this is the ideal biological event that can make us understand the evolutionary conundrums underlying speciation and species diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Nagahama
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ehime University, Ainan, Japan.,Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Tapas Chakraborty
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ehime University, Ainan, Japan.,Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukouka, Japan.,Karatsu Satellite of Aqua-Bioresource Innovation Center, Kyushu University, Karatsu, Japan
| | - Bindhu Paul-Prasanth
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Kohei Ohta
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukouka, Japan
| | - Masaru Nakamura
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.,Research Center, Okinawa Churashima Foundation, Okinawa, Japan
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17
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Balthazart J. New concepts in the study of the sexual differentiation and activation of reproductive behavior, a personal view. Front Neuroendocrinol 2019; 55:100785. [PMID: 31430485 PMCID: PMC6858558 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Since the beginning of this century, research methods in neuroendocrinology enjoyed extensive refinements and innovation. These advances allowed collection of huge amounts of new data and the development of new ideas but have not led to this point, with a few exceptions, to the development of new conceptual advances. Conceptual advances that took place largely resulted from the ingenious insights of several investigators. I summarize here some of these new ideas as they relate to the sexual differentiation and activation by sex steroids of reproductive behaviors and I discuss how our research contributed to the general picture. This selective review clearly demonstrates the importance of conceptual changes that have taken place in this field since beginning of the 21st century. The recent technological advances suggest that our understanding of hormones, brain and behavior relationships will continue to improve in a very fundamental manner over the coming years.
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18
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Abstract
Evolution of genetic mechanisms of sex determination led to two processes causing sex differences in somatic phenotypes: gonadal differentiation and sex chromosome dosage inequality. In species with heteromorphic sex chromosomes, the sex of the individual is established at the time of formation of the zygote, leading to inherent sex differences in expression of sex chromosome genes beginning as soon as the embryonic transcriptome is activated. The inequality of sex chromosome gene expression causes sexual differentiation of the gonads and of non-gonadal tissues. The difference in gonad type in turn causes lifelong differences in gonadal hormones, which interact with unequal effects of X and Y genes acting within cells. Separating the effects of gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes has been possible using mouse models in which gonadal determination is separated from the sex chromosomes, allowing comparison of XX and XY mice with the same type of gonad. Sex differences caused by gonadal hormones and sex chromosomes affect basic physiology and disease mechanisms in most or all tissues.
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