| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>R-Spondin1 (Rspo1) is a novel regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. Loss-of-function mutations in human <it>RSPO1 </it>cause testicular differentiation in 46, XX females, pointing to a role in ovarian development. Here we report the cloning and comparative expression analysis of <it>R-SPONDIN1 </it>orthologues in the mouse, chicken and red-eared slider turtle, three species with different sex-determining mechanisms. Evidence is presented that this gene is an ancient component of the vertebrate ovary-determining pathway.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Gonadal <it>RSPO1 </it>gene expression is female up-regulated in the embryonic gonads in each species at the onset of sexual differentiation. In the mouse gonad, <it>Rspo1 </it>mRNA is expressed in the somatic cell lineage at the time of ovarian differentiation (E12.5–E15.5), with little expression in germ cells. However, the protein is localised in the cytoplasm and at the cell surface of both somatic (pre-follicular) and germ cells. In the chicken embryo, <it>RSPO1 </it>expression becomes elevated in females at the time of ovarian differentiation, coinciding with female-specific activation of the <it>FOXL2 </it>gene and estrogen synthesis. RSPO1 protein in chicken is localised in the outer cortical zone of the developing ovary, the site of primordial follicle formation and germ cell differentiation. Inhibition of estrogen synthesis with a specific aromatase inhibitor results in a decline in chicken <it>RSPO1 </it>expression, indicating that RSPO1 is influenced by estrogen. In the red-eared slider turtle, which exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination, up-regulation of <it>RSPO1 </it>occurs during the temperature-sensitive period, when gonadal development is responsive to temperature. Accordingly, <it>RSPO1 </it>expression is temperature-responsive, and is down-regulated in embryos shifted from female- to male-producing incubation temperatures.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that <it>RSPO1 </it>is up-regulated in the embryonic gonads of female vertebrates with different sex-determining mechanisms. In all instances, <it>RSPO1 </it>is expressed in the incipient ovary. These findings suggest that <it>R-SPONDIN1 </it>is an ancient, conserved part of the vertebrate ovary-determining pathway.</p>
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