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Sexually dimorphic expression of secreted frizzled‐related (SFRP) genes in the developing mouse Müllerian duct
Author(s) -
Cox Sam,
Smith Lee,
Bogani Debora,
Cheeseman Michael,
Siggers Pam,
Greenfield Andy
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.20507
Subject(s) - biology , mullerian ducts , anti müllerian hormone , wnt signaling pathway , frizzled , embryo , duct (anatomy) , gene , müllerian mimicry , embryogenesis , genetics , endocrinology , andrology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , hormone , anatomy , zoology
In developing male embryos, the female reproductive tract primordia (Müllerian ducts) regress due to the production of testicular anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH). Because of the association between secreted frizzled‐related proteins (SFRPs) and apoptosis, their reported developmental expression patterns and the role of WNT signaling in female reproductive tract development, we examined expression of Sfrp2 and Sfrp5 during development of the Müllerian duct in male (XY) and female (XX) mouse embryos. We show that expression of both Sfrp2 and Sfrp5 is dynamic and sexually dimorphic. In addition, the male‐specific expression observed for both genes prior to the onset of regression is absent in mutant male embryos that fail to undergo Müllerian duct regression. We identified ENU‐induced point mutations in Sfrp5 and Sfrp2 that are predicted to severely disrupt the function of these genes. Male embryos and adults homozygous for these mutations, both individually and in combination, are viable and apparently fertile with no overt abnormalities of reproductive tract development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 1008–1016, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.