Somatic Cell Fate Maintenance in Mouse Fetal Testes via Autocrine/Paracrine Regulation of anti-Mullerian hormone and Activin B

Fate determination and maintenance of fetal testes in most mammals occur cell autonomously as a result of the action of key transcription factors in Sertoli cell. In the mouse testis AMH and Activin B are required for the maintenance of Sertoli cell fate. In the absence of both AMH and Activin B (in the global dKO) Sertoli cells at the testis poles transdifferentiate into granulosa cells by embryonic day 15.5. Control testis (Amh+/+; Inhbb+/+), Control ovaries (Amh+/+; Inhbb+/+) and dKO (Amh-/-; Inhbb-/-) testis at E15.5