Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Expression of androgen receptors in upper human fetal reproductive tract.
AU - Sajjad, Yasmin
AU - Quenby, Siobhan M.
AU - Nickson, P.
AU - Lewis-Jones, D. Iwan
AU - Vince, Gill S.
N1 - RAE_import_type : Journal article RAE_uoa_type : Allied Health Professions and Studies
PY - 2004/7/1
Y1 - 2004/7/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: Androgens play a key role in human fetal development. All androgens act through a single intracellular androgen receptor (AR), which is encoded by a single copy gene on the X chromosome. ARs are expressed as early as 9 weeks in the epithelium and mesenchyme of the urogenital sinus, paramesonephric (Müllerian) and mesonephric (Wolffian) ducts. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, we investigated the distribution of ARs in the gonads and lower genital tracts of 54 human fetuses at 8–11 weeks of gestation. Gender was determined by PCR. RESULTS: The AR was expressed in a similar pattern in both male and female fetuses. There appears to be no difference in expression in the mesonephros or the mesonephric ducts when male and female pelvises were compared. Expression in the female paramesonephric duct was within the epithelium, whereas, in the male pelvises, expression was in the mesenchyme of the paramesonephric duct. When AR expression was compared in the ovary and testes, both gonads seem to express AR at 9 weeks, but this expression was extended into the 10th week of gestation in the male. CONCLUSION: The specific pattern of AR expression implies a key role in gonadal development. However, the pattern of staining was similar in the gonads at 8 and 9 weeks in both sexes, although staining persisted longer in the testis until the 10th week. AR expression, therefore, is not a key determinant of human gonadal differentiation.
AB - BACKGROUND: Androgens play a key role in human fetal development. All androgens act through a single intracellular androgen receptor (AR), which is encoded by a single copy gene on the X chromosome. ARs are expressed as early as 9 weeks in the epithelium and mesenchyme of the urogenital sinus, paramesonephric (Müllerian) and mesonephric (Wolffian) ducts. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, we investigated the distribution of ARs in the gonads and lower genital tracts of 54 human fetuses at 8–11 weeks of gestation. Gender was determined by PCR. RESULTS: The AR was expressed in a similar pattern in both male and female fetuses. There appears to be no difference in expression in the mesonephros or the mesonephric ducts when male and female pelvises were compared. Expression in the female paramesonephric duct was within the epithelium, whereas, in the male pelvises, expression was in the mesenchyme of the paramesonephric duct. When AR expression was compared in the ovary and testes, both gonads seem to express AR at 9 weeks, but this expression was extended into the 10th week of gestation in the male. CONCLUSION: The specific pattern of AR expression implies a key role in gonadal development. However, the pattern of staining was similar in the gonads at 8 and 9 weeks in both sexes, although staining persisted longer in the testis until the 10th week. AR expression, therefore, is not a key determinant of human gonadal differentiation.
KW - androgen receptor/fetus/gonad/immunohistochemistry/mesonephros
U2 - 10.1093/humrep/deh295
DO - 10.1093/humrep/deh295
M3 - Journal article
VL - 19
SP - 1659
EP - 1665
JO - Human Reproduction
JF - Human Reproduction
SN - 0268-1161
IS - 7
ER -