Analysis of the mechanism of sex determination and gonadal sexual differentiation of the pufferfish, Takifugu rubripes

为探讨芳香酶和性激素在性腺分化中的作用，对发育中的河豚(Torafugu)在孵化后100d前给予芳香酶抑制剂(AI)。AI抑制卵巢腔的形成，然后观察到不可逆性变(雌雄不可逆)。用于许多鱼类变性的高温处理会导致河豚性腺退化。我们还利用我们新开发的体外性腺培养系统证明了促性腺激素可以调节芳香酶的表达。

In order to assess the involvement of aromatase and sex steroids in gonadal differntiation, an aromatase inhibitor (AI) was administered to developing pufferfish (torafugu) till the 100^<th> day after hatch. AI inhibits ovarian cavity formation, and then irreversible sex change (female to male) was observed. High temperature treatment, which is used for sex reversal of many fishes, induces gonadal degeneration in the pufferfish. We also show that aromatase expression can be regulated by gonadotropin using our newly developed in vitro gonad culture system.