Effects of 17beta-estradiol on distribution of primordial germ cell migration in male chicks.

AIM To assess whether exogenous estradiol has any effect on migration of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in the chick. METHODS Fertilized eggs were treated with 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) (80 microg/egg) at stage X (day 0 of incubation), stages 8-10 (incubation 30 h) and 13-15 (incubation 55 h). Controls received vehicle (emulsion) only. Changes in PGC number were measured on different days according to developmental stages. RESULTS In male right gonads, but not in female left gonads, at stages 28-30 (incubation 132 h) significant decreases in the mean number of PGCs aggregating were observed compared with the controls (P < 0.05) while the total PGC number in the right and left gonads at each stage did not change (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The present study provides evidence that E(2) has significant effects on the localization of PGCs in male right, but not female left, gonads of chicken embryos at stages 28-30, compared with controls.