Abstract
To investigate the role of Müllerian-inhibiting substance (MIS) in mammalian sexual development, we generated MIS-deficient mice. Although MIS-deficient males had testes that were fully descended and produced functional sperm, they also developed female reproductive organs, which interfered with sperm transfer into females, rendering most of these males infertile. Their testes had Leydig cell hyperplasia and, in one instance, neoplasia. The actions of the two primary hormones of male sexual differentation were genetically eliminated using the testicular feminization ( Tfm) mutation in combination with the MIS mutant allele. XY Tfm/MIS double mutants developed as females, with a uterus, coiled oviducts, and no male reproductive organs except undescended dysfunctional testes. These results suggest that eliminating the presumptive female reproductive tract in male fetuses facilitates fertility and that in testes MIS is a negative regulator of Leydig cell proliferation. Eliminating the presumptive male reproductive tract is necessary for proper oviductal morphogenesis during female mouse development.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
