Abstract
Sox9-EGFP knockin mice were generated to label Sertoli cells and visualize testis cord formation during development. Confocal microscopy and morphometric analysis of developing cords were performed. Serial histological sections were used for three-dimensional cord reconstruction. Initially, gonad length decreased from embryonic day (E) 11.5 to E13.5, but increased thereafter, while gonad width doubled every 12 hours from E11.5 through E14.5. At E12.5, the average number of cords was 12.5, whereas this decreased to 10.4 at E13.5 and E14.5. Cord number at a given time point varied between gonads and influenced dimensions. The initial cords that formed were complex and branches were common. Time-lapse imaging revealed an intricate behavior of the Sertoli-germ cell mass and cellular exchange between connected neighboring cords. These results suggest that cord formation is a highly dynamic process that subsequently becomes refined to establish the final number of seminiferous tubule precursors. Developmental Dynamics 238: 1100-1110, 2009.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1100-1110 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Developmental Dynamics |
Volume | 238 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2009 |
Keywords
- Gonad
- Green fluorescent protein
- Sertoli cells
- Sex determination
- Sox9
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental Biology
MD Anderson CCSG core facilities
- Advanced Technology Genomics Core