As in mammals, the SOX9 gene (cSOX9) is specifically expressed in male differentiating Sertoli cells during chicken gonadal development. Recent studies in mouse have shown that the prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2))/lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (PTGDS) pathway is functionally associated with the regulation of SOX9 and is specifically expressed in male developing gonads. In this study, we have shown that, as in mammals, cPTGDS is a male specific gene during chicken testicular development and is temporally expressed in the same window as cSOX9 in Sertoli cells. Using a culture of gonadal explants, we have shown that exogenous PGD(2) enhances cSOX9 expression in male, and activates its ectopic expression in female gonads without up-regulating cAMH. These data indicate a conserved PGD(2) modulation of SOX9 expression during testicular differentiation between birds and mammals.
2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.