Effects of 17beta-estradiol on distribution of primordial germ cell migration in male chicks.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether exogenous estradiol has any effect on migration of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the chick.


METHODS
Fertilized eggs were treated with 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) (80 microg/egg) at stage X (day 0 of incubation), stages 8-10 (incubation 30 h) and 13-15 (incubation 55 h). Controls received vehicle (emulsion) only. Changes in PGC number were measured on different days according to developmental stages.


RESULTS
In male right gonads, but not in female left gonads, at stages 28-30 (incubation 132 h) significant decreases in the mean number of PGCs aggregating were observed compared with the controls (P < 0.05) while the total PGC number in the right and left gonads at each stage did not change (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides evidence that E(2) has significant effects on the localization of PGCs in male right, but not female left, gonads of chicken embryos at stages 28-30, compared with controls.
Jin
Xiu-Mei
XM
College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Yuan-Ming Yuan West Road 2, Beijing, China.
Zhang
Yi-Xiang
YX
Li
Zan-Dong
ZD
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D006066:Gonads / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male
D004958:Estradiol