Sexual dimorphism of the extraorbital lacrimal glands in SF-1 knockout mice

Šemanjski, Kristina (author), Majdič, Gregor (author), Kozina, Viviana (author), Ježek, Davor (author)

ABSTRACT Sexual dimorphism (SD) represents all the differences between males and females of the same species. SD of the murine lacrimal gland and the major effect of testosterone on its formation are well documented. Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1, NR5a1) is a nuclear receptor essential for the fetal development of steroid hormones producing organs and SF-1 knockout mice (Sf-1 KO) are therefore born without gonads and adrenal glands. The aim of this study was to investigate whether SD in lacrimal glands is present in the absence of exposure to sex hormones during development. Lacrimal glands from adult Sf-1 KO male and female mice without hormonal exposure, and from males that were treated with testosterone propionate (TP) prior to sacrifice, were examined. After sacrifice, glandular tissue was processed using standard histological procedures. Paraffin sections were analysed by ste-reology and immunostained against the androgen receptor (AR). Our results showed that there were no statis-tically significant differences in the mean volumes of acini, connective tissue or ductal system between males, females, and males on TP. The same pertains to the mean length of the ducts in all three groups. In the absence of sex hormones, sex chromosomes proved to be insufficient in inducing sexual dimorphism in LG. However, nuclei of the acinar cells in males on TP were positive for AR, whereas in males without TP no expression of AR was detected. Administration of TP induced the expression of AR in the nuclei of acinar cells of males but did not affect the morphology of LG. We conclude that SD in the lacrimal gland is not present in Sf-1 KO mice and this suggests that sex hormones have a major role in the development of SD in the lacrimal gland.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Sexual dimorphism, lacrimal gland, testosterone, Sf-1 KO mice
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: VF - Veterinary Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Author Accepted Manuscript
• Publication date: 25.12.2020
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 7 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 123, no. 2, art. 151669
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-132237
• UDC: 636.09:575
• ISSN on article: 1618-0372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2020.151669
• COBISS.SI-ID: 46732035
• Publication date in RUL: 18.10.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta histochemica
• Shortened title: Acta histochem.
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1618-0372
• COBISS.SI-ID: 46718211

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.
• Licensing start date: 25.12.2020

Projects

• Funder: MZOS - Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia
• Project number: 108-1080399-0383
• Name: Male and female reproductive tract: development, histophysiology and infertility

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: European Union through the European Regional Development Fund
• Project number: KK.01.1.1.01.0008
• Name: Regenerative and Reproductive Medicine - Exploring New Platforms and Potentials