The embryonic gonads give rise to one of two morphologically and functionally different organs, a testis or an ovary. Sex determination is the embryonic process that determines the developmental fate of the gonad. In mammals, sex determination is regulated by a DNA binding protein encoded on the Y chromosome, Sry, and it's downstream mediator, Sox9, which trigger testis determination in the bip...

BACKGROUND Gonad shielding has been extensively advocated during pelvic radiography at or below reproductive ages. The popular practice of gonad shielding is placement of a lead shield in the midline of the pelvis. The aim of this study was to address the prevalence of gonad shielding and find out whether the current practice of gonad shielding can be considered as an effective method to reduce...

The gonad of Helix aspersa contains a factor which can stimulate in a dose-dependent manner galactogen synthesis in albumen gland explants cultured in vitro. The stimulatory activity appears to be greater when the gonad is predominantly male than when it is predominantly female. The albumen gland of virgin snails does not respond in vitro to the gonadal influence. The receptivity of the albumen...

This short review summarises the history and current knowledge of molecular genetic aspects human gonadal differentiation toward ovary.

Protecting the gonads of children and adults is of particular importance during diagnostic imaging of the pelvis since evidence suggests that X-rays could cause direct damage to the gonad which could result in mutation [1]. Gonad shielding during diagnostic X-ray procedures is an effective way of reducing dose to patients’ reproductive organs and reduces the risk of genetic effects in future ge...

In 14 cases of the Turner syndrome and pure gonadal dysgenesis streak gonads were studied histologically. In cases where the 46,XX line was unimpaired the blood vessels of the gonad showed severe degeneration in at least 30 to 50%. These streak gonads usually contained some of the characteristic ovarian elements as well as the vascular lesions. In gonosomal monosomy, on the other hand, a simila...

The mammalian gonad arises as a bipotential primordium from which a testis or ovary develops depending on the chromosomal sex of the individual. We have previously used DNA microarrays to screen for novel genes controlling the developmental fate of the indifferent embryonic mouse gonad. Maestro (Mro), which encodes a HEAT-repeat protein, was originally identified as a gene exhibiting sexually d...

Disorders of sex development (DSD), ranging in severity from mild genital abnormalities to complete sex reversal, represent a major concern for patients and their families. DSD are often due to disruption of the genetic programs that regulate gonad development. Although some genes have been identified in these developmental pathways, the causative mutations have not been identified in more than...

Sexual dimorphism requires the integration of positional information in the embryo with the sex determination pathway. Homeotic genes are a major source of positional information responsible for patterning along the anterior-posterior axis in embryonic development, and are likely to play a critical role in sexual dimorphism. Here, we investigate the role of homeotic genes in the sexually dimorp...