title: Sex determination. foxl3 is a germ cell-intrinsic factor involved in sperm-egg fate decision in medaka.
abstract: Sex determination is an essential step in the commitment of a germ cell to a sperm or egg. However, the intrinsic factors that determine the sexual fate of vertebrate germ cells are unknown. Here, we show that foxl3, which is expressed in germ cells but not somatic cells in the gonad, is involved in sperm-egg fate decision in medaka fish. Adult XX medaka with disrupted foxl3 developed functional sperm in the expanded germinal epithelium of a histologically functional ovary. In chimeric medaka, mutant germ cells initiated spermatogenesis in female wild-type gonad. These results indicate that a germ cell-intrinsic cue for the sperm-egg fate decision is present in medaka and that spermatogenesis can proceed in a female gonadal environment.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics for Reproduction, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan. Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics for Reproduction, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics for Reproduction, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Watakabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Medical Initiatives, JST-CREST, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohkawa
authors.affiliation: Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Mikita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suyama
authors.affiliation: Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan. Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics for Reproduction, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan. Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan. mtanaka@nibb.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009990:Oryzias / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D019849:Sex Determination Processes / Q000235:genetics*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors