Loss of Wnt5a disrupts primordial germ cell migration and male sexual development in mice

Disruptions in the regulatory pathways controlling sex determination and differentiation can cause disorders of sex development, often compromising reproductive function. Although extensive efforts have been channeled into elucidating the regulatory mechanisms controlling the many aspects of sexual differentiation, the majority of disorders of sex development phenotypes are still unexplained at the molecular level. In this study, we have analyzed the potential involvement of Wnt5a in sexual development and show in mice that Wnt5a is male-specifically upregulated within testicular interstitial cells at the onset of gonad differentiation. Homozygous deletion of Wnt5a affected sexual development in male mice, causing testicular hypoplasia and bilateral cryptorchidism despite the Leydig cells producing factors such as Hsd3b1 and Insl3. Additionally, Wnt5a-null embryos of both sexes showed a significant reduction in gonadal germ cell numbers, which was caused by aberrant primordial germ cell migration along the hindgut endoderm prior to gonadal colonization. Our results indicate multiple roles for Wnt5a during mammalian reproductive development and help to clarify further the etiology of Robinow syndrome (OMIM 268310), a disease previously linked to the WNT5A pathway.