Gonadal development and differentiation in Alligator mississippiensis at male and female producing incubation temperatures |
| |
Authors: | J M P Joss |
| |
Institution: | Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia |
| |
Abstract: | The development and differentiation of the gonads of embryonic alligators incubated at 30 °C (100% female producing) and 33 °C (100% male producing) was investigated histologically. The stage of development of the gonad and differentiation into an ovary or a testis occurred at essentially the same time at both temperatures. This contrasts with the overall development of the embryos which was slower at the lower temperature. A few days prior to differentiation, gonads grew more quickly at 33 °C than they did at 30 °C. However, once differentiated into a presumptive testis, gonads reduced in volume so that at hatching presumptive testes were smaller than presumptive ovaries. It is hypothesized that synchrony/asynchrony of development of the gonad and the rest of the embryo may account for temperature-dependent sex determination. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|