Cell reorganization in vitro of heterosexual gonadal cocultures.

Male and female gonadal cells of newborn rats were cocultured in varying proportions. As low a proportion as 20% of male cells essentially yielded tubular structures. At lower quotas of testicular cells, however, only follicular structures occurred. Mixed structures were not observed except one experiment (20% male cells). When ovarian cells were cocultivated with male nongonadal cells, no conversion occurred. It is assumed that H-Y antigen secreted by male gonadal cells is bound by the ovarian receptor sites and induces conversion into tubular structures. H-Y antigen integrated into the cell membrane of nongonadal male cells does not seem to be able to exert this morphogenetic effect.