Role for androgens in determination of ovarian fate in the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina.

ABSTRACT: Sex steroids are involved in sex determination in almost all vertebrates, including species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). It is well established that aromatase and estrogens are involved in ovary determination in TSD species. In contrast, the role of non-aromatizable androgens in TSD is less clear. In this study, we used dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and an antagonist of the mammalian androgen receptor (flutamide) to examine the impact of androgens on sex determination in the snapping turtle. We incubated eggs at a male-producing temperature and treated embryos with drug delivery vehicle (5 L ethanol), DHT in vehicle, or flutamide in vehicle during the sex-determining period. We then measured expression of markers for ovarian and testicular development and genes involved

SUBMITTER: Schroeder A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6784546 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature