Unveiling the critical role of androgen receptor signaling in avian sexual development

Kamila Lengyel, Mekhla Rudra, Tom V.L. Berghof, Albertine Leitão, Carolina Frankl-Vilches, Falk Dittrich, Denise Duda, Romina Klinger, Sabrina Schleibinger, Hicham Sid, Lisa Trost, Hanna Vikkula, Benjamin Schusser, Manfred Gahr

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelBegutachtung

Abstract

Gonadal hormone activities mediated by androgen and estrogen receptors, along with cell-autonomous mechanisms arising from the absence of sex-chromosome dosage compensation, are key factors in avian sexual development. In this study, we generate androgen receptor (AR) knockout chickens (AR−/−) to explore the role of androgen signaling in avian sexual development. Despite developing sex-typical gonads and gonadal hormone production, AR−/− males and females are infertile. While few somatic sex-specific traits persist (body size, spurs, and tail feathers), crucial sexual attributes such as comb, wattles and sexual behaviors remain underdeveloped in both sexes. Testosterone treatment of young AR−/− males fails to induce crow behavior, comb development, or regression of the bursa of Fabricius, which are testosterone-dependent phenotypes. These findings highlight the significance of androgen receptor mechanisms in fertility and sex-specific traits in chickens, challenging the concept of a default sex in birds and emphasizing the dominance of androgen signaling in avian sexual development.

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer8970
FachzeitschriftNature Communications
Jahrgang15
Ausgabenummer1
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Dez. 2024

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