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Sox9-dependent expression of Gstm6 in Sertoli cells during testis development in mice

Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia¹ Human Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia² Department of Paediatrics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia

Correspondence should be addressed to P Koopman; Email: p.koopman{at}imb.uq.edu.au

A Beverdam and T Svingen contributed equally to this work

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are an important family of multifunctional enzymes that play a role in the protection of tissues by the detoxification of hazardous and carcinogenic compounds. We found previously that Gstm6 is upregulated in the somatic cells of male mouse fetal gonads relative to female gonads. In this study, we describe the spatial and temporal expression pattern of Gstm6 during mouse development. We show that Gstm6 is predominantly expressed in the reproductive system, at significantly higher levels in XY gonads compared with XX gonads from 11.5 dpc onwards, and remains expressed in the testes in adult mice. Its expression is associated with the Sertoli cell lineage, and is dependent on the expression of the male sex-determining gene Sox9. Our data suggest that Gstm6 plays a male-specific role in gonad development or function, possibly by modulating the exposure of somatic tissue and/or germ cells to endogenous or exogenous toxicants.

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