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A genetically female brain is required for a regular reproductive cycle in chicken brain chimeras

Author

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  • Fumihiko Maekawa

    (Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Science and Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
    Molecular Toxicology Section, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies)

  • Miyano Sakurai

    (Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Science and Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
    College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University)

  • Yuki Yamashita

    (Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Science and Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University)

  • Kohichi Tanaka

    (Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Science and Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University)

  • Shogo Haraguchi

    (Laboratory of Integrative Brain Sciences, Waseda University)

  • Kazutoshi Yamamoto

    (Laboratory of Integrative Brain Sciences, Waseda University)

  • Kazuyoshi Tsutsui

    (Laboratory of Integrative Brain Sciences, Waseda University)

  • Hidefumi Yoshioka

    (Hyogo University of Teacher Education)

  • Shizuko Murakami

    (Juntendo University School of Medicine)

  • Ryo Tadano

    (Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University
    Present address: Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Department of Agricultural Science, Laboratory of Animal Genome Diversity, Gifu University, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan)

  • Tatsuhiko Goto

    (Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University
    Present address: Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, Research Organization of Information and Systems, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan)

  • Jun-ichi Shiraishi

    (Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Physiology, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University
    Present address: Department of Animal Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Kyonan-cho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan)

  • Kohei Tomonari

    (Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University)

  • Takao Oka

    (Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University)

  • Ken Ohara

    (Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University)

  • Teruo Maeda

    (Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University
    Japanese Avian Bioresource Project Research Center, Hiroshima University)

  • Takashi Bungo

    (Laboratory of Animal Behavior and Physiology, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University
    Japanese Avian Bioresource Project Research Center, Hiroshima University)

  • Masaoki Tsudzuki

    (Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University
    Japanese Avian Bioresource Project Research Center, Hiroshima University)

  • Hiroko Ohki-Hamazaki

    (Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Science and Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
    College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University)

Abstract

Sexual differentiation leads to structural and behavioural differences between males and females. Here we investigate the intrinsic sex identity of the brain by constructing chicken chimeras in which the brain primordium is switched between male and female identities before gonadal development. We find that the female chimeras with male brains display delayed sexual maturation and irregular oviposition cycles, although their behaviour, plasma concentrations of sex steroids and luteinizing hormone levels are normal. The male chimeras with female brains show phenotypes similar to typical cocks. In the perinatal period, oestrogen concentrations in the genetically male brain are higher than those in the genetically female brain. Our study demonstrates that male brain cells retain male sex identity and do not differentiate into female cells to drive the normal oestrous cycle, even when situated in the female hormonal milieu. This is clear evidence for a sex-specific feature that develops independent of gonadal steroids.

Suggested Citation

  • Fumihiko Maekawa & Miyano Sakurai & Yuki Yamashita & Kohichi Tanaka & Shogo Haraguchi & Kazutoshi Yamamoto & Kazuyoshi Tsutsui & Hidefumi Yoshioka & Shizuko Murakami & Ryo Tadano & Tatsuhiko Goto & Ju, 2013. "A genetically female brain is required for a regular reproductive cycle in chicken brain chimeras," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2372
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2372
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    Cited by:

    1. Kamila Lengyel & Mekhla Rudra & Tom V. L. Berghof & Albertine Leitão & Carolina Frankl-Vilches & Falk Dittrich & Denise Duda & Romina Klinger & Sabrina Schleibinger & Hicham Sid & Lisa Trost & Hanna V, 2024. "Unveiling the critical role of androgen receptor signaling in avian sexual development," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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