Matrix metalloproteinases regulate mesonephric cell migration in developing XY gonads which correlates with the inhibition of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 by Sry

In the mouse, the sex determining gene Sry, on the Y chromosome, controls testis differentiation during embryogenesis. Following Sry expression, indifferent XY gonads increase their size relative to XX gonads and form cord-like structures with the adjacent mesonephros, providing XY gonad somatic cells. This mesonephric cell migration is known to depend on Sry, but the molecular mechanism of mesonephric cell migration remains unknown. In this study, it was shown that cells expressing Sry induced proliferation of mesonephric cells migrating into male gonads, and inhibited expression of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-3 gene, which is the endogenous inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). In addition, the mesonephric cell migration was blocked by a chemically synthesized inhibitor of MMP in a gonad/mesonephros organ co-culture system with enhanced green fluorescent protein transgenic embryos. The findings indicate that MMP may play a critical role in mesonephric cell migration, and the function of MMP may be regulated by a Sry-TIMP-3 cascade. These findings are an important clue for the elucidation of testicular formation in developing gonads.     

Sry induces cell proliferation in the mouse gonad

Sry is the only gene on the Y chromosome that is required for testis formation in mammals. One of the earliest morphological changes that occurs as a result of Sry expression is a size increase of the rudimentary XY gonad relative to the XX gonad. Using 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation to label dividing cells, we found that the size increase corresponds with a dramatic increase in somatic cell proliferation in XY gonads, which is not detected in XX gonads. This male-specific proliferation was observed initially in the cells of the coelomic epithelium and occurred in two distinct stages. During the first stage, proliferation in the XY gonad was observed largely in SF1-positive cells and contributed to the Sertoli cell population. During the second stage, proliferation was observed in SF1-negative cells at and below the coelomic epithelium and did not give rise to Sertoli cells. Both stages of proliferation were dependent on Sry and independent of any other genetic differences between male and female gonads, such as X chromosome dosage or other genes on the Y chromosome. The increase in cell proliferation began less than 24 hours after the onset of Sry expression, before the establishment of male-specific gene expression patterns, and before the appearance of any other known male-specific morphological changes in the XY gonad. Therefore, an increase in cell proliferation in the male coelomic epithelium is the earliest identified effect of Sry expression.     

Meiotic germ cells antagonize mesonephric cell migration and testis cord formation in mouse gonads

The developmental fate of primordial germ cells in the mammalian gonad depends on their environment. In the XY gonad, Sry induces a cascade of molecular and cellular events leading to the organization of testis cords. Germ cells are sequestered inside testis cords by 12.5 dpc where they arrest in mitosis. If the testis pathway is not initiated, germ cells spontaneously enter meiosis by 13.5 dpc, and the gonad follows the ovarian fate. We have previously shown that some testis-specific events, such as mesonephric cell migration, can be experimentally induced into XX gonads prior to 12.5 dpc. However, after that time, XX gonads are resistant to the induction of cell migration. In current experiments, we provide evidence that this effect is dependent on XX germ cells rather than on XX somatic cells. We show that, although mesonephric cell migration cannot be induced into normal XX gonads at 14.5 dpc, it can be induced into XX gonads depleted of germ cells. We also show that when 14.5 dpc XX somatic cells are recombined with XY somatic cells, testis cord structures form normally; however, when XX germ cells are recombined with XY somatic cells, cord structures are disrupted. Sandwich culture experiments suggest that the inhibitory effect of XX germ cells is mediated through short-range interactions rather than through a long-range diffusible factor. The developmental stage at which XX germ cells show a disruptive effect on the male pathway is the stage at which meiosis is normally initiated, based on the immunodetection of meiotic markers. We suggest that at the stage when germ cells commit to meiosis, they reinforce ovarian fate by antagonizing the testis pathway.     

A microarray analysis of the XX Wnt4 mutant gonad targeted at the identification of genes involved in testis vascular differentiation

One of the earliest morphological changes during testicular differentiation is the establishment of an XY specific vasculature. The testis vascular system is derived from mesonephric endothelial cells that migrate into the gonad. In the XX gonad, mesonephric cell migration and testis vascular development are inhibited by WNT4 signaling. In Wnt4 mutant XX gonads, endothelial cells migrate from the mesonephros and form a male-like coelomic vessel. Interestingly, this process occurs in the absence of other obvious features of testis differentiation, suggesting that Wnt4 specifically inhibits XY vascular development. Consequently, the XX Wnt4 mutant mice presented an opportunity to focus a gene expression screen on the processes of mesonephric cell migration and testicular vascular development. We compared differences in gene expression between XY Wnt4+/+ and XX Wnt4+/+ gonads and between XX Wnt4+/+ and XX Wnt4+/+ gonads to identify sets of genes similarly upregulated in wildtype XY gonads and XX mutant gonads or upregulated in XX gonads as compared to XY gonads and XX mutant gonads. We show that several genes identified in the first set are expressed in vascular domains, and have predicted functions related to cell migration or vascular development. However, the expression patterns and known functions of other genes are not consistent with roles in these processes. This screen has identified candidates for regulation of sex specific vascular development, and has implicated a role for WNT4 signaling in the development of Sertoli and germ cell lineages not immediately obvious from previous phenotypic analyses.     

A microarray analysis of the XX Wnt4 mutant gonad targeted at the identification of genes involved in testis vascular differentiation

One of the earliest morphological changes during testicular differentiation is the establishment of an XY specific vasculature. The testis vascular system is derived from mesonephric endothelial cells that migrate into the gonad. In the XX gonad, mesonephric cell migration and testis vascular development are inhibited by WNT4 signaling. In Wnt4 mutant XX gonads, endothelial cells migrate from the mesonephros and form a male-like coelomic vessel. Interestingly, this process occurs in the absence of other obvious features of testis differentiation, suggesting that Wnt4 specifically inhibits XY vascular development. Consequently, the XX Wnt4 mutant mice presented an opportunity to focus a gene expression screen on the processes of mesonephric cell migration and testicular vascular development. We compared differences in gene expression between XY Wnt4+/+ and XX Wnt4+/+ gonads and between XX Wnt4-/- and XX Wnt4+/+ gonads to identify sets of genes similarly upregulated in wildtype XY gonads and XX mutant gonads or upregulated in XX gonads as compared to XY gonads and XX mutant gonads. We show that several genes identified in the first set are expressed in vascular domains, and have predicted functions related to cell migration or vascular development. However, the expression patterns and known functions of other genes are not consistent with roles in these processes. This screen has identified candidates for regulation of sex specific vascular development, and has implicated a role for WNT4 signaling in the development of Sertoli and germ cell lineages not immediately obvious from previous phenotypic analyses.     

From SRY to SOX9: mammalian testis differentiation

Sry (sex-determining region on the Y chromosome) is a master gene that initiates testis differentiation of the bipotential indifferent gonad in mammals. In mice, Sry expression is transiently activated in a center-to-pole wave along the anteroposterior (AP) axis of developing XY gonads. Shortly after the onset of Sry activation, Sox9 (Sry-related HMG box-9), a fundamental testis-differentiation gene common to all vertebrates, is also activated in a center-to-pole pattern similar to the initial Sry expression profile. Several male-specific cellular events, such as glycogenesis, coelomic epithelium proliferation, mesonephric migration and vasculogenesis, are induced in XY gonads following the onset of Sry and Sox9 expression. This paper mainly focuses on recent advances in elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of Sry and Sox9 expression and male-specific cellular events immediately downstream of SRY action during the initial phases of testis differentiation.     

Male-specific cell migration into the developing gonad is a conserved process involving PDGF signalling

Male-specific migration of cells from the mesonephric kidney into the embryonic gonad is required for testis formation in the mouse. It is unknown, however, whether this process is specific to the mouse embryo or whether it is a fundamental characteristic of testis formation in other vertebrates. The signalling molecule/s underlying the process are also unclear. It has previously been speculated that male-specific cell migration might be limited to mammals. Here, we report that male-specific cell migration is conserved between mammals (mouse) and birds (quail-chicken) and that it involves proper PDGF signalling in both groups. Interspecific co-cultures of embryonic quail mesonephric kidneys together with embryonic chicken gonads showed that quail cells migrated specifically into male chicken gonads at the time of sexual differentiation. The migration process is therefore conserved in birds. Furthermore, this migration involves a conserved signalling pathway/s. When GFP-labelled embryonic mouse mesonephric kidneys were cultured together with embryonic chicken gonads, GFP+ mouse cells migrated specifically into male chicken gonads and not female gonads. The immigrating mouse cells contributed to the interstitial cell population of the developing chicken testis, with most cells expressing the endothelial cell marker, PECAM. The signalling molecule/s released from the embryonic male chicken gonad is therefore recognised by both embryonic quail and mouse mesonephric cells. A candidate signalling molecule mediating the male-specific cell migration is PDGF. We found that PDGF-A and PDGF receptor-alpha are both up-regulated male-specifically in embryonic chicken and mouse gonads. PDGF signalling involves the phosphotidylinositol 3-kinase (PIK3) pathway, an intracellular pathway proposed to be important for mesonephric cell migration in the mammalian gonad. We found that a component of this pathway, PI3KC2alpha, is expressed male-specifically in developing embryonic chicken gonads at the time of sexual differentiation. Treatment of organ cultures with the selective PDGF receptor signalling inhibitor, AG1296 (tyrphostin), blocked or impaired mesonephric cell migration in both the mammalian and avian systems. Taken together, these studies indicate that a key cellular event in gonadal sex differentiation is conserved among higher vertebrates, that it involves PDGF signalling, and that in mammals is an indirect effect of Sry expression.     

lon-1 regulates Caenorhabditis elegans body size downstream of the dbl-1 TGF beta signaling pathway

Although the primitive vasculature is identical in XX and XY genital ridges until 11.5 days postcoitum (dpc), by 12.5 dpc the XY gonad develops a distinct vasculature. This male-specific vasculature, which includes the development of a large coelomic vessel, develops coincident with expression of Sry and formation of testis cords. We show that similar levels of proliferation and vasculogenesis expand the primary vasculature in XX and XY gonads. However, soon after Sry expression begins, the XY gonad recruits a large number of endothelial cells from the adjacent mesonephros, a mechanism totally absent in XX gonads. These migrating cells do not contribute to venous or lymphatic development. Instead, these cells contribute to the arterial system, as indicated by expression of ephrinB2 and by elements of the Notch signaling pathway. This newly formed arterial system establishes a new pattern of blood flow in the XY gonad, which we speculate may have an important role in export of testosterone to masculinize the XY embryo.     

Endothelial and steroidogenic cell migration are regulated by WNT4 in the developing mammalian gonad

The signalling molecule WNT4 has been associated with sex reversal phenotypes in mammals. Here we show that the role of WNT4 in gonad development is to pattern the sex-specific vasculature and to regulate steroidogenic cell recruitment. Vascular formation and steroid production in the mammalian gonad occur in a sex-specific manner. During testis development, endothelial cells migrate from the mesonephros into the gonad to form a coelomic blood vessel. Leydig cells differentiate and produce steroid hormones a day later. Neither of these events occurs in the XX gonad. We show that WNT4 represses mesonephric endothelial and steroidogenic cell migration in the XX gonad, preventing the formation of a male-specific coelomic blood vessel and the production of steroids. In the XY gonad, Wnt4 expression is downregulated after sex determination. Transgenic misexpression of Wnt4 in the embryonic testis did not inhibit coelomic vessel formation but vascular pattern was affected. Leydig cell differentiation was not affected in these transgenic animals and our data implies that Wnt4 does not regulate steroidogenic cell differentiation but represses the migration of steroidogenic adrenal precursors into the gonad. These studies provide a model for understanding how the same signalling molecule can act on two different cell types to coordinate sex development.     

Functional analysis of Sox8 and Sox9 during sex determination in the mouse

Sex determination in mammals directs an initially bipotential gonad to differentiate into either a testis or an ovary. This decision is triggered by the expression of the sex-determining gene Sry, which leads to the activation of male-specific genes including the HMG-box containing gene Sox9. From transgenic studies in mice it is clear that Sox9 is sufficient to induce testis formation. However, there is no direct confirmation for an essential role for Sox9 in testis determination. The studies presented here are the first experimental proof for an essential role for Sox9 in mediating a switch from the ovarian pathway to the testicular pathway. Using conditional gene targeting, we show that homozygous deletion of Sox9 in XY gonads interferes with sex cord development and the activation of the male-specific markers Mis and P450scc, and leads to the expression of the female-specific markers Bmp2 and follistatin. Moreover, using a tissue specific knock-out approach, we show that Sox9 is involved in Sertoli cell differentiation, the activation of Mis and Sox8, and the inactivation of Sry. Finally, double knock-out analyses suggest that Sox8 reinforces Sox9 function in testis differentiation of mice.     

Defective mesonephric cell migration is associated with abnormal testis cord development in C57BL/6J XY(Mus domesticus) mice

During the critical period of mouse sex determination, mesenchymal cells migrate from the mesonephros into the adjacent developing testis. This process is thought to initiate cord development and is dependent on Sry. The presence of Sry, however, does not always guarantee normal testis development. For example, transfer of certain Mus domesticus-derived Y chromosomes, i.e., M. domesticus Sry alleles, onto the C57BL/6J (B6) inbred mouse strain results in abnormal testis development. We tested the hypothesis that mesonephric cell migration was impaired in three cases representing a range of aberrant testis development: B6 XY(AKR), B6 XY(POS), and (BXD-21 x B6-Y(POS))F1 XY(POS). In each case, mesonephric cell migration was abnormal. Furthermore, the timing, extent, and position of migrating cells in vitro and cord development in vivo were coincident, supporting the hypothesis that mesonephric cells are critical for cord development. Additional experiments indicated that aberrant testis development results from the inability of Sry(M. domesticus) to initiate normal cell migration, but that downstream signal transduction mechanisms are intact. These experiments provide new insight into the mechanism of C57BL/6J-Y(M. domesticus) sex reversal. We present a model incorporating these findings as they relate to mammalian sex determination.     

Male-specific cell migration into the developing gonad

Background: The gene Sry acts as a developmental switch, initiating a pathway of gene activity that leads to the differentiation of testis rather than ovary from the indifferent gonad (genital ridge) in mammalian embryos. The early events following Sry expression include rapid changes in the topographical organization of cells in the XY gonad. To investigate the contribution of mesonephric cells to this process, gonads from wild-type mice (CD1), and mesonephroi from a transgenic strain ubiquitously expressing β-galactosidase (ROSA26), were grafted together in vitro. After culture, organs were fixed and stained for β-galactosidase activity to identify cells contributed from the mesonephros to the male or female gonad.Results: Migration of mesonephric cells occurred into XY but not XX gonads from 11.5–16.5 days post coitum (dpc). Somatic cells contributed from the mesonephros were distinguished by their histological location and by available cell-specific markers. Some of the migrating cells were endothelial; a second population occupied positions circumscribing areas of condensing Sertoli cells; and a third population lay in close apposition to endothelial cells.Conclusions: Migration from the mesonephros to the gonad is male specific at this stage of development and depends on an active signal that requires the presence of a Y chromosome in the gonad. The signals that trigger migration operate over considerable distances and behave as chemoattractants. We suggest that migration of cells into the bipotential gonad may have a critical role in initiating the divergence of development towards the testis pathway.     

Retinoic acid inhibits rat XY gonad development by blocking mesonephric cell migration and decreasing the number of gonocytes

Vitamin A (also called retinol) and its derivatives, retinoic acids (RAs), are required for postnatal testicular function. Abnormal spermatogenesis is observed in rodents on vitamin A-deficient diets and in retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha) knockout mice. In contrast, RA has an inhibitory effect on the XY gonad development in embryos. To characterize this inhibitory effect of RA, we investigated the cellular events that are required for the XY gonad development, including cell migration from the adjacent mesonephros into the gonad, fetal Sertoli cell differentiation, and survival of gonocytes. In organ cultures of Embryonic Day 13 (E13) XY gonads from rats, all-trans-retinoic acid (tRA) inhibited mesonephric cell migration into the gonad. Moreover, treatment with tRA decreased the expression of Müllerian-inhibiting substance in Sertoli cells and dramatically reduced the number of gonocytes. Increased apoptosis was detected in the XY gonads cultured with tRA, suggesting that the loss of gonocytes could be due to increased apoptosis. In addition, Am580, a synthetic compound that exhibits RARalpha-specific agonistic properties, mimicked the inhibitory effects of tRA on the XY gonad development including mesonephric cell migration and gonocyte survival. Conversely, a RARalpha-selective antagonist, Ro 41-5253, suppressed the inhibitory ability of tRA on the XY gonad development. These results suggest that retinoic acid acting through RARalpha negatively affects fetal Sertoli cell differentiation and gonocyte survival and blocks the migration of mesonephric cells, thereby leading to inhibition of the XY gonad development.     

Sexually dimorphic regulation of inhibin beta B in establishing gonadal vasculature in mice

Sexually dimorphic differentiation of gonads is accomplished through balanced interactions between positive and negative regulators. One of the earliest features of gonadal differentiation is the divergent patterning of the vasculature. A male-specific coelomic vessel develops on the anterior to posterior of the XY gonad, whereas this vessel is absent in XX gonads. It is postulated that the testis-determining gene Sry controls formation of the coelomic vessel, but the exact molecular mechanism remains unknown. Here we reveal a novel role for inhibin beta B in establishing sex-specific gonad vasculature. In the testis, inhibin beta B contributes to proper formation of the coelomic vessel, a male-specific artery critical for testis development and, later in development, hormone transportation. On the other hand, in the ovary, inhibin beta B is repressed by WNT4 and its downstream target follistatin, leading to the absence of the coelomic vessel. When either Wnt4 or follistatin was inactivated, the coelomic vessel appeared ectopically in the XX ovary. However, when inhibin beta B was also removed in either the Wnt4-null or follistatin-null background, normal ovarian development was restored and no coelomic vessel was found. Our results indicate that the sex-specific formation of the coelomic vessel is established by positive components in the testis as well as an antagonizing pathway from the ovary. Inhibin beta B is strategically positioned at the intersection of these opposing pathways.     

Cell proliferation is necessary for the determination of male fate in the gonad

Cell proliferation has been shown to have multiple functions in development and pattern formation, including roles in growth, morphogenesis, and gene expression. Previously, we determined that the earliest known morphological event downstream of the male sex determining gene, Sry, is the induction of proliferation. In this study, we used proliferation inhibitors to block cell division during early gonad development, at stages before the XY gonad has committed to the testis pathway. Using the expression of sex-specific genes and the formation of testis morphology as markers of testis determination, we found that proliferation within a specific 8-h window was critical for the establishment of the male pathway and the formation of the testis. Inhibition of proliferation before or after this critical period led to smaller gonads, but did not block testis formation. The critical period of proliferation coincides with the initiation of Sry expression and is essential for the differentiation of Sertoli cells, suggesting that proliferation is a vital component of the initiation of the male pathway by Sry. We believe these studies suggest that proliferation is involved not only in the elaboration of organ pattern, but also in the choice between patterns (male and female) in the bipotential gonad.     

Establishment of fetal gonad/mesonephros coculture system using EGFP transgenic mice

In developing mouse embryos, the Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and seminiferous cords are differentiated in the XY gonads. The migration of mesonephric cells into the gonads is required during the developmental stage for seminiferous cord formation in the male gonads. In previous experiments, an organ coculture system has been used to examine morphologically developing gonads. However, by the process used in this system for fixing and staining the gonad/mesonephros complexes for examination, the kinetics of cell migration and the character of migrating cells cannot be observed. In the present study, we established an improved organ coculture system, using transgenic mice ubiquitously expressing Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP). In this system, time-dependent morphological changes in male-specific migration were observable in the gonad/mesonephros complex. The cell migration occurred at around 20 hr of coculture and began to spread at 25 hr with increases in the number of migrating cells occurring at 45 hr of coculture. No degenerative changes were detected at the end of coculture. Our results indicate that the present coculture system is very useful for investigating the mechanism of cell migration, as well as the characteristics of the migrating cells, in developing gonads. J. Exp. Zool. 286:320-327, 2000.     

Characterization of Mesonephric Cells That Migrate into the XY Gonad during Testis Differentiation

In mouse fetal gonads, sex differentiation begins at 10.5-11.5 days postcoitum (dpc). With XY gonads of 12.5 dpc, cord-like structures are visible and stromal cells migrate from adjacent mesonephros, unlike in XX gonads. However, the migrated mesonephric cells, except for the endothelial cells, have not been specifically identified because they have not expressed differentiation markers over the course of organ coculture in previous experiments. In this study, we have for the first time succeeded in isolating only the mesonephric cells that migrate into the XY gonad from the mesonephros with alive and then cultured these cells in vitro through the use of an organ coculture system using EGFP-transgenic mice and a FACS Vantage. The migrated and isolated cells were used for morphological and molecular characterization. The migrated mesonephric cells contained three cell forms; a sharp cell form, a round cell form, and a cluster-forming cell. The sharp cells have the characters of peritubular myoid cells. The round cells and cluster-forming cells have the potential to differentiate into Leydig cells, as some of them are 3beta-HSD-positive. In in vitro culture of migrated mesonephric cells, the cluster-forming cells proliferated well and then differentiated into round cells, suggesting that the cluster-forming cells may be stem or precursor cells for the round cells. Thus, our findings provide important information related to the migration and differentiation of migrated mesonephric cells in the XY gonad.