New candidate genes identified for controlling mouse gonadal sex determination and the early stages of granulosa and Sertoli cell differentiation.

ABSTRACT: Mammalian gonadal sex-determining (GSD) genes are expressed in a unique population of somatic cells that differentiate into granulosa cells in XX gonads or Sertoli cells in XY gonads. The ability to efficiently isolate these somatic support cells (SSCs) during the earliest stages of gonad development would facilitate identifying 1) new candidate GSD genes that may be involved in cases of unexplained abnormal gonad development and 2) genes involved in the earliest stages of granulosa and Sertoli cell differentiation. We report the development of a unique mouse carrying two transgenes that allow XX and XY mice to be distinguished as early as Embryonic Day 11.5 (E11.5) and allow SSCs to be isolated from undifferentiated (E11.5) and early differentiated (E12.5) fetal gonads. The Mouse Genome 4

SUBMITTER: Bouma GJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2809227 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature