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MiRNA profiling in male and female chicken embryonic gonads during sexual differentiation

ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a highly conserved class of small RNAs which function in a sequence-specific manner to post-transcriptionally regulate expression of target genes. Tissue-specific miRNA expression studies have discovered numerous functions for miRNAs in various aspects of embryonic development, but a role for miRNAs in gonadal development and sex differentiation has not yet been reported. Using the chicken embryo as a vertebrate model, differential miRNA expression between male and female embryonic gonads, was analysed at three developmental stages (embryonic days (E) 5.5, E6.5 and E9.5), using custom-designed 4x2K CombiMatrix miRNA microarray. The aims of this study were to: 1-identify miRNAs differentialy expressed by sex; 2-identify sex-specific miRNAs; 3-analyse global changes in miRNA up-regulation in male versus female gonads before, during and after the histological onset of sexual differentiation. This study provides a basis for establishing whetehr miRNAs are involved in either initiating or regulating vertebrate gonadal sex differentiation. Keywords: miRNA, sex comparison, developmental stage comparison.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus Danio rerio Rattus norvegicus Gallus gallus Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE13154 | GEO | 2008/10/11

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA109737

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Gonadal sex differentiation – testis versus ovary formation – is a fundamental process required for reproduction and evolution. Reflecting this importance, the embryonic gonads of vertebrate species comprise the same key cell types; germ cells, supporting cells and interstitial steroidogenic cells. Remarkably, the genetic triggers for gonadal sex differentiation vary across species (the SRY gene in mammals, DMRT1 in birds and some turtles, temperature in many reptiles, AMH and various other genes in fishes). Despite this variation, the cell biology of gonadal development was long thought to be largely conserved. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of gonadal sex differentiation, using the chicken embryo as a model and considering the entire gonad. We sampled over 30,000 cells across several developmental stages, prior, during and after the onset of gonadal sex differentiation. The data provide several new insights into cell lineage specification during vertebrate gonadogenesis. Combining lineage tracing with single cell transcriptomics, the data show that somatic supporting cells of the embryonic chicken gonad do not derive from the coelomic epithelium, in contrast to other vertebrates studied. Instead, the early somatic precursors cells of the gonads in both sexes derive from a DMRT1+/PAX2+/WNT4+/OSR1+ mesenchymal cell population. In particular, PAX2 marks immigrating mesenchymal cells that give rise to the supporting cell lineage. We find a greater complexity of gonadal cell types than previously thought, including the identification of two distinct sub-populations of Sertoli cells in developing testes, and derivation of embryonic steroidogenic cells from a differentiated supporting cell lineage. We provide significantly improved resolution of gonadal cell types and identify several new gonadal marker genes. Altogether, these results indicate that, just as the genetic trigger for sex differs across vertebrate groups, cell lineage specification in the gonad may also vary substantially.

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MiRNA profiling in male and female chicken embryonic gonads during sexual differentiation

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