The conditional deletion of steroidogenic factor 1 (Nr5a1) in Sox9-Cre mice compromises testis differentiation.

ABSTRACT: Steroidogenic factor 1 (NR5A1) is essential for gonadal development. To study the importance of NR5A1 during early gonadal sex differentiation, we generated Sox9-Cre-Nr5a1 conditional knockout (cKO) mice: Sox9-Cre;Nr5a1^flox/flox and Sox9-Cre;Nr5a1^flox/- mice. Double-immunostaining for NR5A1 and AMH revealed silenced NR5A1 in Sertoli cells and reduced AMH⁺ cells in the gonads of XY Sox9-Cre-Nr5a1 cKO mice between embryonic days 12.5 (E12.5) and E14.5. Double-immunostaining for SOX9 and FOXL2 further indicated an early block in Sertoli cells and ectopic granulosa cell differentiation. The number of cells expressing the Leydig cell marker 3βHSD obviously reduced in the gonads of XY Sox9-Cre;Nr5a1^flox/- but not Sox9-Cre;Nr5a1^flox/flox mice

SUBMITTER: Ikeda Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7904858 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature