Sex Hormones and Sex Differentiation

Dear Colleagues,

Sexual reproduction is necessary for survival for almost all species. There are two important factors that direct sex determination, namely, genetic and environmental factors. In almost all mammalian and avian species, the sex-determining genes of the heterologous sex chromosomes (XX/XY and ZZ/ZW) strictly determine male and female outcome. However, the conditions of the habitat environment during sex differentiation—such as temperature, pH and social structure—can direct individual sexes in fish, amphibians and reptiles, even though some species possess sex-determining genes. Regardless of the dependency to each factor, these conditions trigger a genetic cascade to establish testes and ovaries from bipotential gonadal primordia. There are many unsolved problems in this genetic cascade.Following the differentiation of testes and ovaries, the sex hormones produced in each gonad play vital roles. Sex steroids, androgens and estrogens are some of the representative hormones. These hormones are essential for the establishment of sexual characteristics. They can often induce sex reversal in various animal species. In addition to sex steroids, it has become apparent that many other hormones and paracrine factors are also involved in the sex differentiation of various organs.Here, we invite original research articles and review articles to update our current knowledge and answer the remaining questions in the field of sex differentiation and hormones.

Dr. Takashi Yazawa
Guest Editor

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