Characterisation of Crim1 expression in the developing mouse urogenital tract reveals a sexually dimorphic gonadal expression pattern

The Crim1 gene encodes a putative transmembrane protein with an IGF-binding protein motif and multiple chordin-like cysteine-rich repeats. In chordin, such repeats are responsible for its dorsalising activity and for binding to bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), Crim1 displays a dynamic expression pa ttern in a variety of developing organs, including the CNS and the lens. We have undertaken a detailed expression pattern analysis of Crim1 in the dev eloping mouse urogenital system. During metanephric development, Crim1 show ed expression both in the ureteric tree, the early condensing mesenchyme an d distal comma-shaped bodies. As the nephron elongates, Crim1 becomes expre ssed in the proximal end of the S-shaped bodies. Crim1 also displays a stri king male-specific expression pattern in the fetal gonads, its expression s trongest in the Sertoli cells of the developing testis. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss , Inc.