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#sex differentiation

2 public questions tagged with this topic.

Sex determination-l

Sertoli cells secrete which hormone to prevent female duct development?

During male embryogenesis newly formed testis cords contain Sertoli cells that secrete Anti-Müllerian Hormone glycoprotein belonging to TGF-β family. AMH acts via type II receptor on Müllerian duct mesenchyme activating Smad signaling leading to apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation causing regression from cranial to caudal direction, eliminating primordia of uterus and oviducts. Sertoli cells also support germ cell survival, create blood-testis barrier and secrete inhibin. Their endocrine secretion of AMH provides crucial anti-female signal complementing testosterone pro-male signal for proper reproductive tract patterning and sexual dimorphism.

Ref: Gilbert, Developmental Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 17: Sertoli cell AMH prevents female duct development.

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Sex determination-l

The primary sex determination in mammals refers to the development of:

Primary sex determination describes initial decision within bipotential gonad whether to become testis or ovary, distinct from secondary sexual characteristics. Process occurs around seventh week in humans when Sry in XY gonads commits supporting lineage to Sertoli fate through Sox9 upregulation and ovary pathway via Wnt4/β-catenin in XX, shaping gonadal architecture. Gonad then secretes hormones Anti-Müllerian hormone and testosterone or estrogen orchestrating secondary determination of internal ducts, external genitalia, brain and general habitus. Primary event therefore corresponds to gonads differentiating into testes or ovaries.

Ref: Gilbert, Developmental Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 6: Primary sex determination as gonad fate decision.

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