Int. J. Dev. Biol. 42: 621 - 624 (1998)

Vol 42, Issue 4

Differentiated aspect of female and male mouse mesonephroi

Published: 1 May 1998

M D Vazquez, P Bouchet, B Foliguet, H Gérard, J L Mallet and B Leheup

Département de Cytologie, Histologie et Embryologie, Faculté de Médecine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France. vasquez@loria.fr

Abstract

In the mouse, Sryis expressed by somatic cells in the genital ridge and leads to initiate the transformation of the indifferent gonad into a testis. Here, we have examined the segmented female and male mesonephroi over the developmental period when the initiation of seminiferous cord formation takes place. We have generated three-dimensional models which reveal structural differences between male and female mesonephric tubules at 11.5, 13.5 and 14.5 days post coitum. We evaluate, following structural parameters, that form and orientation of the tubules could evolve differently in both sexes. We propose that the structural organization of the mesonephric tubules presents an early dimorphism.