Testis determination requires insulin receptor family function in mice

摘要: In mice, gonads are formed shortly before embryonic day 10.5 by the thickening of mesonephros and consist somatic cells migratory primordial germ cells. The male sex-determining process is set in motion region Y chromosome (Sry), which triggers differentiation Sertoli cell lineage. turn, function as organizing centres direct testis. absence Sry expression, neither XX nor XY develop testes, alterations expression often associated with abnormal sexual differentiation. molecular signalling mechanisms specifies pathway models undifferentiated gonad unknown. Here we show that insulin receptor tyrosine kinase family, comprising Ir, Igf1r Irr, required for appearance thus mice mutant all three receptors ovaries a completely female phenotype. Reduced both early testis-specific marker Sox9 indicates sex determination.