《Expression of sex steroid hormone-related genes in the embryo of the leopard gecko》.pdf

Available online at General and Comparative Endocrinology 155 (2008) 70–78 /locate/ygcen Short Communication Expression of sex steroid hormone-related genes in the embryo of the leopard gecko Daisuke Endo, Yoh-Ichiro Kanaho, Min Kyun Park * Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan Received 28 November 2006; revised 4 April 2007; accepted 9 April 2007 Available online 21 April 2007 Abstract Sex steroid hormones are known to play a central role in vertebrate sex determination and differentiation. However, the tissues in which they are produced or received during development, especially around the period of sex determination of the gonads, have rarely been investigated. In this study, we identified the cDNA sequence, including the full-length of the coding region of cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), from the leopard gecko; a lizard with temperature-dependent sex determination. Embryonic expression anal- ysis of two steroidogenic enzymes, P450scc and P450 aromatase (P450arom), and four sex steroid hormone receptors, androgen receptor, estrogen receptor a and b, and progesterone receptor, was subsequently conducted. mRNA expression of both steroidogenic enzymes was observed in the brain and gonads prior to the temperature-sensitive period of sex determination. The mRNAs of the four sex steroid hormone receptors were also detected in the brain and gonads at all stages examined. These results