Early development of gonads in Muscovy duck embryos

Abstract Characteristics of gonadal development were investigated in Muscovy duck embryos at various embryonic ages.Hematoxylin-Eosin and periodic acid-Schiff staining were used to identify primordial germ cells, oogonia and sustentacular cells.Gene specific primers were designed based on conserved regions of duck antimullerian hormone (AMH), oestrogen receptor-α (ESR-α), doublesex and Mab-3 related transcription factor-1(DMRT1) and W chromosome protein kinase C inhibitor/interacting gene (WPKCI). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to characterise gene expression during gonad development in Muscovy duck embryos.Histology indicated that ovarian and testicular cells of Muscovy duck embryos developed on d 9 and 10.Immunohistochemistry showed that mouse vasa homologue-positive cells as well as Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor-positive cells increased significantly more in females than in males between d 9 and 10. AMH and ESR-α expression increased significantly during early d...