title: Sex-specific expression of CTNNB1 in the gonadal morphogenesis of the chicken.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beta-catenin (CTNNB1), as a key transcriptional regulator in the WNT signal transduction cascade, plays a pivotal role in multiple biological functions such as embryonic development and homeostasis in adults. Although it has been suggested that CTNNB1 is required for gonad development and maintenance of ovarian function in mice, little is known about the expression and functional role of CTNNB1 in gonadal development and differentiation in the chicken reproductive system.
  
  
  METHODS
  To examine sex-specific, cell-specific and temporal expression of CTNNB1 mRNA and protein during gonadal development to maturation of reproductive organs, we collected left and right gonads apart from mesonephric kidney of chicken embryos on embryonic day (E) 6, E9, E14, E18, as well as testes, oviduct and ovaries from 12-week-old and adult chickens and performed quantitative PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical analyses. In addition, localization of Sertoli cell markers such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1), cyclin D1 (CCND1) and N-cadherin (CDH2) during testicular development was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of the present study showed that CTNNB1 mRNA and protein are expressed predominantly in the seminiferous cords on E6 to E14 in the male embryonic gonad, and are mainly localized to the medullary region of female embryonic gonads from E6 to E9. In addition, CTNNB1 mRNA and protein are abundant in the Sertoli cells in the testes and expressed predominantly in luminal epithelial cells of the oviduct, but not in the ovaries from 12-week-old and adult chickens. Concomitant with CTNNB1, AMH, ESR1, CCND1 and CDH2 were detected predominantly in the seminiferous cord of the medullary region of male gonads at E9 (after sex determination) and then maintained or decreased until hatching. Interestingly, AMH, ESR1, CCND1 and CDH2 were located in seminiferous tubules of the testes from 12-weeks-old chickens and ESR1, CCND1 and CDH2 were expressed predominantly in the Sertoli cells within seminiferous tubules of adult testes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collectively, these results revealed that CTNNB1 is present in gonads of both sexes during embryonic development and it may play essential roles in differentiation of Sertoli cells during formation of seminiferous tubules during development of the testes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea. ghsong@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seung-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Whasun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Wooyoung
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Jin-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jinyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Fuller W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Bazer
authors.forename: Gwonhwa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006066:Gonads / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010057:Oviducts / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019849:Sex Determination Processes / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D051176:beta Catenin; D019938:Cyclin D1; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone
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