LIMB BUD MESENCHYME PERMITS SEMINIFEROUS CORD FORMATION IN THE MOUSE FETAL TESTIS BUT SUBSEQUENT TESTOSTERONE OUTPUT IS MARKEDLY AFFECTED BY THE SEX OF THE DONOR STROMAL TISSUE
N. Morenomendoza et al., LIMB BUD MESENCHYME PERMITS SEMINIFEROUS CORD FORMATION IN THE MOUSE FETAL TESTIS BUT SUBSEQUENT TESTOSTERONE OUTPUT IS MARKEDLY AFFECTED BY THE SEX OF THE DONOR STROMAL TISSUE, Developmental biology, 169(1), 1995, pp. 51-56
Mesonephric stromal cells have previously been shown to migrate into t
he genital ridge and to be necessary for seminiferous cord formation i
n organ culture. Here, we asked whether there is a specific requiremen
t for mesonephric stromal cells or whether another source of mesonephr
ic stromal cells can be substituted. Hindlimb buds were immersed in a
vital stain and then grafted to male gonad primordia and cultured for
96 hr. Immunocytochemical staining of laminin was used to identify sem
iniferous cord formation. For Sertoli and Leydig cell differentiation,
Mullerian inhibiting substance and Delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehy
drogenase were used, respectively. Testosterone secreted into the cult
ure medium was assessed by radioimmunoanalysis. It was found that hind
limb stromal cells, like mesonephric stromal cells, migrate into the g
enital ridge and allow seminiferous cord formation. These results indi
cate that mesonephric stromal cells are not specifically required for
seminiferous cord formation in the mouse fetal gonad. Furthermore, alt
hough Sertoli and Leydig cells differentiate in the gonads grafted to
hindlimbs from either male or female embryos, testosterone production
was considerably higher with hindlimbs from males. A similar stromal s
ex effect on subsequent testosterone output was also seen with mesonep
hric stromal cells. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.