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Exogenous cMHM regulates the expression of DMRT1 and ERα in avian testes

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Abstract

The male hypemethylated (MHM) region, associated with sex-specific DNA methylation and histone acetylation, encodes non-coding RNAs that are expressed exclusively on Z chromosome in female chickens. The function of the MHM non-coding RNAs is unclear yet. In order to analyze the regulation effect of MHM on mRNA expression of sex-dependent genes, exogenous plasmid containing chicken MHM (cMHM) was constructed and injected into left testes of 13-week-old roosters. Comb color of the roosters in the pEGFP-N1-cMHM group became much paler, an indication of change in sex hormones, as compared with that of the negative control groups at the 10 days after injection. Real-time PCR was used to determine mRNA expression of sex-dependent genes in testes tissue. Transcription of ERα gene was significantly up-regulated in the pEGFP-N1-cMHM group compared with that of the pEGFP-N1 and normal saline groups (P < 0.01), while expression of DMRT1 mRNA declined severely in the pEGFP-N1-cMHM group compared with that of normal saline groups (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, expression of other candidate genes, such as AMH, FOXL2, SOX9, and P450arom did not change after injection of exogenous cMHM. In conclusion, down-regulation of DMRT1 and up-regulation of ERα in rooster testes treated with exogenous pEGFP-N1-cMHM plasmid might indicate a novel cMHM non-coding RNA-mediated mechanism in avian sex differentiation.

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Acknowledgments

The present research was supported in part by the National High Technology Development Plan of China (2006AA10A121) and the National Basic Research Program of China (2006CB102102).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, China

    Xiurong Yang, Jiangxia Zheng, Guiyun Xu, Lujiang Qu, Sirui Chen, Junying Li & Ning Yang

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  1. Xiurong Yang
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  2. Jiangxia Zheng
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  3. Guiyun Xu
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  4. Lujiang Qu
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  5. Sirui Chen
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  7. Ning Yang
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Correspondence to Ning Yang.

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Yang, X., Zheng, J., Xu, G. et al. Exogenous cMHM regulates the expression of DMRT1 and ERα in avian testes. Mol Biol Rep 37, 1841–1847 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-009-9619-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-009-9619-y

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