Abstract
We have employed gene knockout technology in mice to probe gene function in various stages of mouse male sexual differentiation. Insulin-like factor (Ins13) is prominently expressed in Leydig cells. Mutation of this gene leads to fully penetrant cryptorchidism. Single mutation in each of the three known insulin family receptor tyrosine kinases alone has limited effects on sexual differentiation; however, compound mutations result in formation of ovotestes, and triple mutations cause male-to-female sexual reversal. The implications of our mouse models are discussed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-8 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences |
Volume | 1061 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2005 |
Keywords
- Cryptorchidism
- Insulin family
- Mice
- Ovotestis
- Sex determination
- Sex reversal
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- History and Philosophy of Science