Publication Type : Journal Article
Thematic Areas : Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine
Publisher : Scientific reports, Nature Publishing Group.
Source : Scientific reports, Nature Publishing Group, Volume 3, p.2862 (2013)
Url : http://www.nature.com/articles/srep02862?WT.ec_id=SREP-631-20131101(link is external)
Keywords : Cell Lineage, Differentiation, Oogenesis, Steroid hormones
Campus : Kochi
School : Center for Nanosciences
Center : Amrita Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine Move, Nanosciences
Department : Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine
Verified : Yes
Year : 2014
Abstract : The sexual plasticity of the gonads is not retained after the completion of sex differentiation in vertebrates, except in some hermaphroditic species. Here, we report that the depletion of estradiol-17β (E2) by aromatase inhibitors (AI) for up to six months resulted in a functional female-to-male sex reversal in sexually-mature adults of two gonochoristic fish species, Nile tilapia and medaka. The sex-reversed fish showed a typical male pattern of E2 and androgen levels, secondary sexual characteristics, and male-like sex behavior, producing fertile sperm. Conversely, co-treatment of E2 inhibited AI-induced sex reversal. In situ hybridization of medaka gonads during AI-induced sex reversal indicated that cysts on the dorsal side of the adult ovaries are the origin of germ cells and Sertoli cells in the newly formed testicular tissue. Gonochoristic fish maintain their sexual plasticity until adulthood and E2 plays a critical role in maintaining the female phenotype.
Cite this Research Publication : Dr. Bindhu Paul, Bhandari, R. K., Kobayashi, T., Horiguchi, R., Kobayashi, Y., Nakamoto, M., Shibata, Y., Sakai, F., Nakamura, M., and Nagahama, Y., “Estrogen oversees the maintenance of the female genetic program in terminally differentiated gonochorists”, Scientific reports, vol. 3, p. 2862, 2013.