Project description:Embryonic day 13 (E13), E14, and E16 rat testes and ovaries were used for microarray analysis, as well as E13 testis organ cultures that undergo testis morphogenesis and develop seminiferous cords in vitro. A list of 109 genes resulted from a selective analysis for genes present in male gonadal development and with a 1.5-fold change in expression between E13 and E16. Characterization of these 109 genes potentially important for testis development revealed that cytoskeletal-associated proteins, extracellular matrix factors, and signaling factors were highly represented. Throughout the developmental period (E13-E16), sex-enriched transcripts were more prevalent in the male with 34 of the 109 genes having testis-enriched expression during sex determination. In ovaries, the total number of transcripts with a 1.5-fold change in expression between E13 and E16 was similar to the testis, but none of those genes were both ovary enriched and regulated during the developmental period. Genes conserved in sex determination were identified by comparing changing transcripts in the rat analysis herein, to transcripts altered in previously published mouse studies of gonadal sex determination. A comparison of changing mouse and rat transcripts identified 43 genes with species conservation in sex determination and testis development. Profiles of gene expression during E13-E16 rat testis and ovary development are presented and candidate genes for involvement in sex determination and testis differentiation are identified. Analysis of cellular pathways did not reveal any specific pathways involving multiple candidate genes. However, the genes and gene network identified influence numerous cellular processes with cellular differentiation, proliferation, focal contact, RNA localization, and development being predominant. Experiment Overall Design: RNA samples from two different groups of 20-40 pooled gonads for each sample. Embrionic testis and ovaries of age E13, E14, or E16, and E13 testis cultured for three days were compared to each other

Project description:The current study investigates the direct effects of in utero vinclozolin exposure on the developing rat testis transcriptome. Vinclozolin is a commonly used fungicide in agriculture and is an endocrine disruptor with anti-androgenic activity. Previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to vinclozolin during embryonic gonadal sex determination induces epigenetic modifications of the germ line and transgenerational adult onset disease states that include spermatogenic cell defects, prostate disease, kidney disease, and tumor development. An investigation of the molecular actions of vinclozolin was initiated through an analysis of direct actions on the F1 generation embryonic testis development. Microarray analyses were performed to compare control and vinclozolin treated testis transcriptomes at embryonic day 13, 14 and 16. A total of 576 differentially expressed genes were identified and the major cellular functions and pathways associated with these altered transcripts were examined. The sets of regulated genes at the different development periods were found to be transiently altered and distinct. Interestingly, genes previously shown to be regulated during normal male sex determination were not altered by vinclozolin treatment. Categorization by major known functions of all 576 genes altered by in utero vinclozolin exposure demonstrates transcription, signaling, cytoskeletal and extra cellular matrix associated transcripts are highly represented. Specific cellular process and pathway analyses suggest the involvement of Wnt and calcium signaling, vascular development and epigenetic mechanisms as potential mediators of the direct F1 generation actions of vinclozolin. For Samples 1-12: We used microarrays to determine genes expressed differentially between control and in utero Vinclozolin treated E13, E14, and E16 rat testis. For Samples 13-16: We used microarrays to determine genes expressed differentially between control and in vitro Vinclozolin treated E13 cultured rat testis. For Samples 17-20: We used microarrays to determine genes expressed differentially between control and in vitro Flutamide treated rat E13 cultured testis. For Samples 1-12: RNA samples from two control groups are compared to two Vinclozolin treated groups for each E13, E14, E16 testis. For Samples 13-16: RNA samples from two control groups of E13 cultured testis are compared to two Vinclosolin treated groups of E13 cultured testis. For Samples 17-20: RNA samples from two control groups of E13 cultured testis are compared to two Flutamide treated groups of E13 cultured testis.

Project description:The current study investigates the direct effects of in utero vinclozolin exposure on the developing rat testis transcriptome. Vinclozolin is a commonly used fungicide in agriculture and is an endocrine disruptor with anti-androgenic activity. Previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to vinclozolin during embryonic gonadal sex determination induces epigenetic modifications of the germ line and transgenerational adult onset disease states that include spermatogenic cell defects, prostate disease, kidney disease, and tumor development. An investigation of the molecular actions of vinclozolin was initiated through an analysis of direct actions on the F1 generation embryonic testis development. Microarray analyses were performed to compare control and vinclozolin treated testis transcriptomes at embryonic day 13, 14 and 16. A total of 576 differentially expressed genes were identified and the major cellular functions and pathways associated with these altered transcripts were examined. The sets of regulated genes at the different development periods were found to be transiently altered and distinct. Interestingly, genes previously shown to be regulated during normal male sex determination were not altered by vinclozolin treatment. Categorization by major known functions of all 576 genes altered by in utero vinclozolin exposure demonstrates transcription, signaling, cytoskeletal and extra cellular matrix associated transcripts are highly represented. Specific cellular process and pathway analyses suggest the involvement of Wnt and calcium signaling, vascular development and epigenetic mechanisms as potential mediators of the direct F1 generation actions of vinclozolin. For Samples 1-12: We used microarrays to determine genes expressed differentially between control and in utero Vinclozolin treated E13, E14, and E16 rat testis. For Samples 13-16: We used microarrays to determine genes expressed differentially between control and in vitro Vinclozolin treated E13 cultured rat testis. For Samples 17-20: We used microarrays to determine genes expressed differentially between control and in vitro Flutamide treated rat E13 cultured testis.

Project description:A number of environmental factors (e.g. toxicants) have been shown to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease and phenotypic variation. Transgenerational inheritance requires the germline transmission of altered epigenetic information between generations in the absence of direct environmental exposures. The primary periods for epigenetic programming of the germline is associated with primordial germ cell development and during fetal gonadal sex determination. The current study examined the actions of an agricultural fungicide vinclozolin on gestating female (F0 generation) progeny in regards to the primordial germ cell (PGC) epigenetic reprogramming of the F3 generation (i.e. great-grandchildren). The F3 generation primordial germ cell transcriptome and epigenome (DNA methylation) was altered transgenerationally. Interestingly, the differential DNA methylation regions (DMR) and altered transcriptomes were distinct between the onset of gonadal sex determination at embryonic day 13 (E13) and after cord formation in the testis at embryonic day 16 (E16). A larger number of DMR and transcriptional alterations were observed in the E13 PGC than E16 germ cells. Observations demonstrate an altered transgenerational epigenetic reprogramming and function of the primordial germ cells and subsequent male germline is a component of vinclozolin induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease. Insights into the molecular control of germline transmitted epigenetic inheritance are provided. The combined observations demonstrate ancestral exposure of a gestating female during fetal gonadal sex determination can promote transgenerational alterations in the primordial germ cell and subsequent male germline epigenetic and transcriptional programming. This altered germline programming leads to the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease and phenotypic variation. Observations support the role of the primordial germ cell programming in the molecular mechanism involved and provides insights into the molecular mechanisms that control the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance phenomena. Results suggest a cascade of epigenetic and transcriptional events during germ cell development is needed to obtain the mature germline epigenome that is then transmitted transgenerationally. RNA samples from PGC of 2 F3-control lineage groups were compared to PGC of 2 F3-vinclozolin lineage groups for two embryonic age E13 and E16

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Regulation of the gonadal transcriptome during sex determination and testis morphogenesis: comparative candidate genes

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