Figure 6
Expression profiles of Ovex1 and gonad markers in embryonic gonads before and after sex determination. Fibronectin (FN) is revealed by immunofluorescence and gene expression detected by in situ hybridization of digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes on transverse cryostat sections. (A) Immunostaining of fibronectin (FN) and expression of Ovex1, Lhx9 and ER-α in serial sections of a chick embryo (female) at embryonic day 5 (E5), (Hambuger and Hamilton stage HH27). Male embryos gave similar results. Gonads are outlined by a dashed line on the fibronectin image that corresponds to a double labeling of the section hybridized with Ovex1. m, mesonephros; d, dorsal mesentery; ao, aorta. (B) Ovex1 expression in left (L) and right (R), female (ZW) and male (ZZ) gonads at E6 (HH28). C-F: Expression of Ovex1, Lhx9, ER-α, Cvh and FoxL2 at E7.5 (HH32). (C) Left ovary. (D) Right female gonad. (E) Left testis. (F) Right testis. FoxL2 was not detected in testes. (G) Immunostaining of fibronectin (FN) and expression of Ovex1, Sox9 and AMH in E12 (HH38) left testis. Arrows indicate the epithelial region expressing Ovex1. Scale bars = 100 μm.