title: Expression of sex steroid hormone-related genes in the embryo of the leopard gecko.
abstract: Sex steroid hormones are known to play a central role in vertebrate sex determination and differentiation. However, the tissues in which they are produced or received during development, especially around the period of sex determination of the gonads, have rarely been investigated. In this study, we identified the cDNA sequence, including the full-length of the coding region of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), from the leopard gecko; a lizard with temperature-dependent sex determination. Embryonic expression analysis of two steroidogenic enzymes, P450scc and P450 aromatase (P450arom), and four sex steroid hormone receptors, androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha and beta, and progesterone receptor, was subsequently conducted. mRNA expression of both steroidogenic enzymes was observed in the brain and gonads prior to the temperature-sensitive period of sex determination. The mRNAs of the four sex steroid hormone receptors were also detected in the brain and gonads at all stages examined. These results suggest the existence of a gonad-independent sex steroid hormone signaling system in the developing leopard gecko brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Yoh-Ichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanaho
authors.forename: Min Kyun
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008116:Lizards / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D001141:Aromatase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme