Artículo
The external genitalia in juvenile Caiman latirostris differ in hormone sex determinate-female from temperature sex determinate-female
Tavalieri, Yamil Ezequiel; Galoppo, Germán Hugo; Canesini, Guillermina
; Truter, J.C.; Ramos, Jorge Guillermo
; Luque, Enrique Hugo
; Muñoz de Toro, Monica Milagros
Fecha de publicación:
03/2019
Editorial:
Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science
Revista:
General and Comparative Endocrinology
ISSN:
0016-6480
Idioma:
Inglés
Tipo de recurso:
Artículo publicado
Clasificación temática:
Resumen
The broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) is a crocodilian species that inhabits South American wetlands. As in all other crocodilians, the egg incubation temperature during a critical thermo-sensitive window (TSW) determines the sex of the hatchlings, a phenomenon known as temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). In C. latirostris, we have shown that administration of 17-β-estradiol (E 2 ) during the TSW overrides the effect of the male-producing temperature, producing phenotypic females (E 2 SD-females). Moreover, the administration of E 2 during TSW has been proposed as an alternative way to improve the recovery of endangered reptile species, by skewing the population sex ratio to one that favors females. However, the ovaries of E 2 SD-female caimans differ from those of TSD-females. In crocodilians, the external genitalia (i.e. clitero-penis structure or phallus) are sexually dimorphic and hormone-sensitive. Despite some morphological descriptions aimed to facilitate sexing, we found no available data on the C. latirostris phallus histoarchitecture or hormone dependence. Thus, the aims of this study were: (1) to establish the temporal growth pattern of the phallus in male and female caimans; (2) to evaluate histo-morphological features and the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and androgen receptor (AR) in the phallus of male and female pre-pubertal juvenile caimans; and (3) to determine whether the phallus of TSD-females differs from the phallus of E 2 SD-females. Our results demonstrated sexually dimorphic differences in the size and growth dynamics of the caiman external genitalia, similarities in the shape and spatial distribution of general histo-morphological compartments, and sexually dimorphic differences in innervation, smooth muscle fiber distribution, collagen organization, and ERα and AR expressions. The external genitalia of E 2 SD-females differed from that of TSD-females in many histological features and in the expression of ERα and AR, resembling patterns described in males. Our results alert on the effects of estrogen agonist exposure during TSW and suggest that caution must be taken regarding the use of E 2 SD as a procedure for wildlife population management.
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Articulos(ISAL)
Articulos de INSTITUTO DE SALUD Y AMBIENTE DEL LITORAL
Articulos de INSTITUTO DE SALUD Y AMBIENTE DEL LITORAL
Citación
Tavalieri, Yamil Ezequiel; Galoppo, Germán Hugo; Canesini, Guillermina; Truter, J.C.; Ramos, Jorge Guillermo; et al.; The external genitalia in juvenile Caiman latirostris differ in hormone sex determinate-female from temperature sex determinate-female; Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science; General and Comparative Endocrinology; 273; 3-2019; 236-248
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