title: Sexually dimorphic expression of secreted frizzled-related (SFRP) genes in the developing mouse Müllerian duct.
abstract: In developing male embryos, the female reproductive tract primordia (Müllerian ducts) regress due to the production of testicular anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). Because of the association between secreted frizzled-related proteins (SFRPs) and apoptosis, their reported developmental expression patterns and the role of WNT signaling in female reproductive tract development, we examined expression of Sfrp2 and Sfrp5 during development of the Müllerian duct in male (XY) and female (XX) mouse embryos. We show that expression of both Sfrp2 and Sfrp5 is dynamic and sexually dimorphic. In addition, the male-specific expression observed for both genes prior to the onset of regression is absent in mutant male embryos that fail to undergo Müllerian duct regression. We identified ENU-induced point mutations in Sfrp5 and Sfrp2 that are predicted to severely disrupt the function of these genes. Male embryos and adults homozygous for these mutations, both individually and in combination, are viable and apparently fertile with no overt abnormalities of reproductive tract development.
authors.affiliation: MRC Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell, Didcot, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bogani
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheeseman
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siggers
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greenfield
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005835:Genitalia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008650:Mesonephros / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009095:Mullerian Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013577:Syndrome; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; C491628:Sfrp2 protein, mouse; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins; C487972:Sfrp5 protein, mouse