Open AccessSex‐dependent expression of placental (P)‐cadherin during mouse gonadogenesis
Author(s) -
Lin LiHsien,
DePhilip Robert M.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
the anatomical record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0185
pISSN - 0003-276X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0185(199612)246:4<535::aid-ar12>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - sertoli cell , cadherin , biology , gonad , sexual differentiation , ovary , embryonic stem cell , andrology , endocrinology , medicine , testicle , microbiology and biotechnology , spermatogenesis , cell , genetics , gene
Background Placental (P)‐cadherin is one of a family of cell adhesion molecules that participate in embryonic sorting and organogenesis. In previous work, P‐cadherin was localized to Sertoli cells in the mouse testis as early as postnatal day 1. This early postnatal localization raised questions about when P‐cadherin first appeared in the embryonic testis and whether P‐cadherin was expressed differentially in the embryonic testis and ovary. Methods The localization of P‐cadherin, epithelial (E)‐cadherin, and Müllerian inhibiting substance was determined in frozen sections of mouse gonads between embryonic days 10.5 and 18 using indirect immunohistochemistry. Alkaline phosphatase reactivity was used to identify germ cells. Results The expression of P‐cadherin was traced back to the indifferent stage of gonadogenesis where uniform distribution was observed in the indifferent gonad of both sexes. However, after sexual differentiation, the expression of P‐cadherin in the testis was localized to Sertoli cells in the testicular cords, while its expression in the ovary fell below detectable levels. Conclusions The localization of P‐cadherin in the male and female indifferent gonad is similar and cannot be used to distinguish the future testis and ovary. The localization of P‐cadherin in the testis after sexual differentiation suggests a role for P‐cadherin in testicular cord formation. The common temporal pattern of P‐cadherin and Müllerian inhibiting substance expression in Sertoli cells is consistent with a shared regulatory mechanism. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.