The study for the mechanism of steroid hormone-dependent sex determination in amphibians

两栖动物rugosa的性别可以通过性类固醇激素的治疗从雌性变为雄性或相反的方向。为了诱导性逆转，雄激素必须结合它的受体。雄激素受体（AR）基因定位于Z和W染色体。Z染色体上的AR基因（Z-AR）表达正常，而W-AR几乎不表达，提示该基因可能参与了红毛蛙雄性性别决定。为了证明这一假设，我们生产了携带外源性Z-AR的转基因青蛙。转基因ar雌性（ZW）蛙形成雄性性腺或“卵睾丸”。在含有ar基因的ZW蛙中，提供给饲养水的睾酮完成了雌性到雄性的性别逆转。这是首次报道表明AR基因在脊椎动物的雄性性别决定中起着非常重要的作用。

Sex of an amphibian species Rana rugosa can be changed from female to male or in the opposite direction by treatment of sex steroid hormones. To induce the sex-reversal, androgens must bind its receptor. The androgen receptor (AR) gene is localized to the Z and W chromosome. The AR gene on the Z chromosome (Z-AR) is expressed normally, but W-AR is barely expressed, suggesting that this gene is probably involved in male sex determination in R. rugosa frogs. To prove this hypothesis, we produced transgenic frogs carrying an exogenous Z-AR. AR-transgenic female (ZW) frogs formed masculinized gonad or 'ovotestis'. Testosterone, supplied to the rearing water, completed the female-to-male sex-reversal in the AR-transgenic ZW frogs. This is the first report showing that the AR gene plays a very important role in male sex-determination in a vertebrate species.