Sexual differentiation of the urogenital tract in the chicken embryo: autoradiographic localization of sex-steroid target cells during development.

The determinant role ascribed to steroid hormones in sexual differentiation of the reproductive tract of the embryo implies the presence of target cells for sex steroids. An autoradiographic technique adapted for diffusible compounds was employed to characterize and localize cells which concentrate either [3H]oestradiol (E2) or [3H]dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in their nuclei. This paper describes the topographical distribution of cells containing receptor sites for oestrogen or androgen in various tissues of the reproductive tract of chicken embryos from day 6 to 15 of incubation. Receptor sites for oestradiol are present in the mesenchyme of the cloaca and in urodeum and vascular body. In the lower part of the Wolffian duct, only epithelial cells display nuclear labelling. In the Müllerian duct, nuclear receptor sites for [3H]oestradiol are observed not before day 15. Receptor sites for DHT are localized in the mesenchyme of the cloacal region from day 7 to 15. The Wolffian, but not the Müllerian duct contains receptor sites for DHT in the nuclei of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Cross-competition experiments between [3H]E2 or [3H]DHT and unlabelled DHT or E2 respectively, show that 2 different types of receptor sites exist. The observations indicate: (a) complementary roles forffian, but not the Müllerian duct contains receptor sites for DHT in the nuclei of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Cross-competition experiments between [3H]E2 or [3H]DHT and unlabelled DHT or E2 respectively, show that 2 different types of receptor sites exist. The observations indicate: (a) complementary roles forffian, but not the Müllerian duct contains receptor sites for DHT in the nuclei of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Cross-competition experiments between [3H]E2 or [3H]DHT and unlabelled DHT or E2 respectively, show that 2 different types of receptor sites exist. The observations indicate: (a) complementary roles for oestrogenic and androgenic hormones in embryonic sexual differentiation; (b) precocity of receptors for sex hormones during embryonic development; (c) importance of mesenchyme in differentiation processes which are sex-steroid dependent.