Abstract
Sex in zebrafish is not determined by a major chromosomal locus, but instead relies on a mechanism that is influenced by a germ cell-derived signal, as animals that lack germ cells, or specifically oocytes, develop as phenotypic males. These data suggest that during primary sex determination, an oocyte-derived signal acts on the bipotential somatic gonad to promote the female-specific program. However, it is not known if germ cells are required only during the primary sex-determining window, or if they are required throughout adult life to maintain the female sexual phenotype. Here, we show that while wild-type zebrafish do not switch sex as adults, germ cell-depleted adult females readily convert to a male phenotype. Notably, when oocytes are depleted, but germline stem cells remain, adult females sex-revert to sperm-producing males, indicating that a germ cell-derived signal acts on the somatic gonad to promote female development directly or indirectly by repressing male-specific gene expression. These results also confirm that signals from the somatic gonad in turn ensure that the sex appropriate gamete is produced.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 43-50 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Developmental Biology |
| Volume | 376 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1 2013 |
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Keywords
- Germ cells
- Oocyte
- Sex determination
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Cite this
Germ cells are required to maintain a stable sexual phenotype in adult zebrafish. / Dranow, Daniel B.; Tucker, Richard P; Draper, Bruce W.
In: Developmental Biology, Vol. 376, No. 1, 01.04.2013, p. 43-50.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Germ cells are required to maintain a stable sexual phenotype in adult zebrafish
AU - Dranow, Daniel B.
AU - Tucker, Richard P
AU - Draper, Bruce W.
PY - 2013/4/1
Y1 - 2013/4/1
N2 - Sex in zebrafish is not determined by a major chromosomal locus, but instead relies on a mechanism that is influenced by a germ cell-derived signal, as animals that lack germ cells, or specifically oocytes, develop as phenotypic males. These data suggest that during primary sex determination, an oocyte-derived signal acts on the bipotential somatic gonad to promote the female-specific program. However, it is not known if germ cells are required only during the primary sex-determining window, or if they are required throughout adult life to maintain the female sexual phenotype. Here, we show that while wild-type zebrafish do not switch sex as adults, germ cell-depleted adult females readily convert to a male phenotype. Notably, when oocytes are depleted, but germline stem cells remain, adult females sex-revert to sperm-producing males, indicating that a germ cell-derived signal acts on the somatic gonad to promote female development directly or indirectly by repressing male-specific gene expression. These results also confirm that signals from the somatic gonad in turn ensure that the sex appropriate gamete is produced.
AB - Sex in zebrafish is not determined by a major chromosomal locus, but instead relies on a mechanism that is influenced by a germ cell-derived signal, as animals that lack germ cells, or specifically oocytes, develop as phenotypic males. These data suggest that during primary sex determination, an oocyte-derived signal acts on the bipotential somatic gonad to promote the female-specific program. However, it is not known if germ cells are required only during the primary sex-determining window, or if they are required throughout adult life to maintain the female sexual phenotype. Here, we show that while wild-type zebrafish do not switch sex as adults, germ cell-depleted adult females readily convert to a male phenotype. Notably, when oocytes are depleted, but germline stem cells remain, adult females sex-revert to sperm-producing males, indicating that a germ cell-derived signal acts on the somatic gonad to promote female development directly or indirectly by repressing male-specific gene expression. These results also confirm that signals from the somatic gonad in turn ensure that the sex appropriate gamete is produced.
KW - Germ cells
KW - Oocyte
KW - Sex determination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84875235993&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84875235993&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.01.016
DO - 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.01.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 23348677
AN - SCOPUS:84875235993
VL - 376
SP - 43
EP - 50
JO - Developmental Biology
JF - Developmental Biology
SN - 0012-1606
IS - 1
ER -