Sexual Differentiation and Primordial Germ Cell Distribution in the Early Horse Fetus

SCARLET, DRAGOS; HANDSCHUH, STEPHAN; REICHART, URSULA; PODICO, GIORGIA; ELLERBROCK, ROBYN E.; DEMYDA-PEYRÁS, SEBASTIÁN; CANISSO, IGOR F.; WALTER, INGRID; AURICH, CHRISTINE

Animals

Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

Año: 2021 vol. 11

2076-2615

In horses, gonadal development and sexual differentiation occur during early fetal life. This is accompanied by primordial germ cell differentiation and migration to the gonad site. However, little is known about the time when these processes take place and the mechanisms behind them. Additionally, no information is available regarding number and distribution of primordial germ cells in the equine gonad. During development and differentiation, gonads can be affected by stressors causing infertility, but this condition can only be diagnosed in post-pubertal animals. Herein we show that equine gonads develop asynchronously between male and female fetuses, and that the number and distribution of primordial germ cells is influenced by fetal sex. By day 45 of pregnancy, equine gonads were clearly differentiated, while migration of primordial germ cells still occurred at this stage. No sign of genital duct regression was seen until day 60 of pregnancy.