Gene expression analyses on embryonic external genitalia: identification of regulatory genes possibly involved in masculinization processes.
Androgen plays a crucial role in initiating and maintaining the expression of male sexual characteristics in mammals. In humans and mice, any defects along the pathway of androgen functions result in congenital urogenital abnormalities. The genital tubercle (GT), an anlage of the external genitalia, differentiates into a penis in males and a clitoris in females. Although masculinization of the external genitalia is androgen-dependent, the molecular pathway of its potential downstream genes is largely unclear. To identify the genes involved in mouse GT masculinization, we performed gene expression analyses, such as real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and section in situ hybridization analysis. From our studies we have identified candidate genes, Cyp1b1, Fkbp51 and MafB as potential androgen targets during mouse GT masculinization.
Nishida
Hisayo
H
Center for Animal Resources and Development (CARD), Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Global COE 'Cell Fate Regulation Research and Education Unit', Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
Miyagawa
Shinichi
S
Matsumaru
Daisuke
D
Wada
Yoshihiro
Y
Satoh
Yoshihiko
Y
Ogino
Yukiko
Y
Fukuda
Shinji
S
Iguchi
Taisen
T
Yamada
Gen
G
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D005835:Genitalia / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012733:Sex Differentiation
D017931:DNA Primers