Primordial endocrine cells uncouple sexual differentiation from sex-chromosomes
Sexuality among the animal kingdom is remarkably plastic, spanning from gonochorism to sequential or simultaneous hermaphroditism. Over 70 years ago, Charniaux-Cotton hypothesized that sexual plasticity in crustaceans is mediated by primordial cells present in both sexes, which differentiate into an androgenic gland (AG) only in males. Although AG engraftments can masculinize genetic females, it…
Sexual differentiation in the animal kingdom exhibits remarkable plasticity, ranging from gonochorism to hermaphroditism. Over seven decades ago, Charniaux-Cotton proposed that sexual plasticity in crustaceans is regulated by primordial cells present in both sexes. These cells differentiate into an androgenic gland (AG) in males.
While AG engraftments can masculinize genetically female crustaceans, the long-term effects of this phenomenon remained uncertain. The researchers examined the freshwater prawn, a species known for its sexual plasticity. They discovered that when AG cells are transferred to these prawns, they create functional males despite having only female sex-chromosomes.
This finding suggests that the AG arises from primordial cells present in every individual, demonstrating an autosomal mechanism of sexual differentiation that is not contingent upon the sex-chromosomes.
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