Sex reversal in transplanted primordial germ cells of the monogenic blowfly Chrysomya rufifacies

F. -H. Ullerich

doi:10.1007/bf00405450

‘Spontaneous’ sex reversal in organ cultures of the embryonic male gonad of the bird

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.31.3.611 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 611-620

Author(s):

Gregory F. Erickson

Keyword(s):

Germ Cells ◽

Primordial Germ Cells ◽

Calf Serum ◽

Sex Reversal ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Foetal Calf Serum ◽

Developmental Sequence ◽

Organ Cultures ◽

Male Gonad ◽

Ovarian Cortex

The left embryonic testis of the bird (4–8 days of incubation) was organ cultured in medium that contained 10% foetal calf serum. Under these conditions, the germinal epithelium (GE) of the 4-day gonad differentiates into an ovarian cortex and the male primordial germ cells (PGCs) complete a developmental sequence similar to normal oocytes, i.e. they divide mitotically, develop a Balbiani body, divide synchronously in groups of two, four, and eight germ cells, and some enter pre-leptotene. No medullary tissue develops in the 4-day explants. The pieces of 6- and 8-day gonad differentiate into true ovotestes in which the GE develops into a cortex and the medulla develops into seminiferous cords. The PGCs in the cortex differentiate as oocytes and those in the seminiferous cords differentiate as spermatogonia. The possibility that biologically active oestrogens are present in the growth medium is discussed.

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Germ-cell transfer and sex ratio in Xenopus laevis

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.13.1.51 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 51-61

Author(s):

A. W. Blackler

Keyword(s):

Xenopus Laevis ◽

Germ Cell ◽

South African ◽

Germ Cells ◽

Sexual Differentiation ◽

Primordial Germ Cells ◽

Primordial Germ Cell ◽

Hormone Treatment ◽

Sex Reversal ◽

Cell Transfer

A Technique for the transfer of primordial germ cells between neurulae of the South African Clawed Toad Xenopus laevis has been described by Blackler & Fischberg (1961). This method was originally developed with the object in mind of eventually making a genetic analysis of abnormal embryos resulting from the transplantation of somatic nuclei. Such analysis involves two schemes which require the transfer of embryonic gonocytes from the defective transplant embryo to a normal recipient. Moreover, one of these two schemes requires that transferred germ cells be reversed in their sexual differentiation in the developing gonad of the host (see Fischberg, 1961; Fischberg & Blackler, 1963a, b). Since it has been known for some time, from experiments involving parabiosis, transplantation of the gonadal rudiment and hormone treatment (e.g. Burns, 1925, 1930; Witschi, 1937; Humphrey, 1929, 1933, 1948, 1957; Gallien, 1953, 1956), that the manifestation of the sex genotype of a primordial germ cell can be physiologically reversed by the hormonal characteristics of the gonad, there seemed no obstacle to obtaining sex-reversal of the transferred gonocytes in Xenopus.

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Hexachlorobenzene toxicity in the rat ovary: II. Ultrastructure induced by medium (10 mg/kg) dose exposure

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010012374x ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 668-669

Author(s):

Amreek Singh ◽

Warren G. Foster ◽

Anna Dykeman ◽

David C. Villeneuve

Keyword(s):

Germ Cells ◽

Primordial Germ Cells ◽

Surface Epithelium ◽

Morphological Parameters ◽

Comprehensive Investigation ◽

Ovary Surface Epithelium ◽

Rat Ovary ◽

High Doses

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a known toxicant that is found in the environment as a by-product during manufacture of certain pesticides. This chlorinated chemical has been isolated from many tissues including ovary. When administered in high doses, HCB causes degeneration of primordial germ cells and ovary surface epithelium in sub-human primates. A purpose of this experiment was to determine a no-effect dose of the chemical on the rat ovary. The study is part of a comprehensive investigation on the effects of the compound on the biochemical, hematological, and morphological parameters in the monkey and rat.

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