Becoming female: Ovarian differentiation from an evolutionary perspective

Barbara Nicol; Martin A Estermann; Humphrey H-C Yao; Namya Mellouk

doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.944776

Becoming female: Ovarian differentiation from an evolutionary perspective

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 Sep 7:10:944776. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2022.944776. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Barbara Nicol¹, Martin A Estermann¹, Humphrey H-C Yao¹, Namya Mellouk²

Affiliations

¹ Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
² Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy en Josas, France.

Abstract

Differentiation of the bipotential gonadal primordium into ovaries and testes is a common process among vertebrate species. While vertebrate ovaries eventually share the same functions of producing oocytes and estrogens, ovarian differentiation relies on different morphogenetic, cellular, and molecular cues depending on species. The aim of this review is to highlight the conserved and divergent features of ovarian differentiation through an evolutionary perspective. From teleosts to mammals, each clade or species has a different story to tell. For this purpose, this review focuses on three specific aspects of ovarian differentiation: ovarian morphogenesis, the evolution of the role of estrogens on ovarian differentiation and the molecular pathways involved in granulosa cell determination and maintenance.

Keywords: chicken; granulosa cells; mammals; ovary; sex determination; teleost.

Publication types

Review