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Increase of cortisol levels after temperature stress activates dmrt1a causing female‐to‐male sex reversal and reduced germ cell number in medaka
Author(s) -
Adolfi Mateus Contar,
Fischer Peter,
Herpin Amaury,
Regensburger Martina,
Kikuchi Mariko,
Tanaka Minoru,
Schartl Manfred
Publication year - 2019
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.23177
Subject(s) - biology , oryzias , gonadal ridge , germ cell , sex reversal , germline , sexual differentiation , gene , embryo , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , medicine , embryogenesis
In vertebrates, there is accumulating evidence that environmental factors as triggers for sex determination and genetic sex determination are not two opposing alternatives but that a continuum of mechanisms bridge those extremes. One prominent example is the model fish species Oryzias latipes which has a stable XX/XY genetic sex determination system, but still responds to environmental cues, where high temperatures lead to female‐to‐male sex reversal. However, the mechanisms behind are still unknown. We show that high temperatures increase primordial germ cells (PGC) numbers before they reach the genital ridge, which, in turn, regulates the germ cell proliferation. Complete ablation of PGCs led to XX males with germ cell less testis, whereas experimentally increased PGC numbers did not reverse XY genotypes to female. For the underlying molecular mechanism, we provide support for the explanation that activation of the dmrt1a gene by cortisol during early development of XX embryos enables this autosomal gene to take over the role of the male determining Y‐chromosomal dmrt1bY .