Gonad differentiation depends on a set of cellular and hormonal signals interacting in a specific order, with very precise windows of action, to contribute to the establishment of the genital tract and a male or female phenotype. Research initially focused on the stages of gonad differentiation toward testis, in particular following the identification in 1990 of the SRY factor on chromosome Y. The mechanisms involved in gonad differentiation toward ovary took longer to identify. Thanks to patients with different sexual development (DSD) and animal knock-out models, description of the cascades involved in the activation and maintenance of ovarian development has progressed considerably in recent years.
Keywords: Différenciation gonadique; Développement ovarien; Facteur SRY; Gonad; Gonad differentiation; Gonade; Ovaire; Ovarian development; Ovary; Phenotype; Phénotype; SRY factor.
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