Transgenic and knockout analyses of Masculinizer and doublesex illuminated the unique functions of doublesex in germ cell sexual development of the silkworm Bombyx mori

摘要

Morphological and molecular analysis of the internal genitalia of Masc-R females homozygous for BmdsxM mutation. Homozygous mutation in BmdsxM fully restored ovary development in Masc-R females. a, b The expression levels of BmdsxM (a) and BmdsxF (b) in animals with the indicated genotype were quantified by qRT-PCR. c, d Expression of Bmovo-1 (c) and Bm-nosO (d), which is important for oogenesis, was quantified by qRT-PCR to evaluate the effect of BmdsxM knockout on gonadal sexual development in Masc-R/+ females. Error bars indicate standard deviation. * indicates a significant difference, as determined by Welch’s t-test. e–g Morphological analysis of the internal genitalia in Masc-R female heterozygous for BmdsxMΔ7 (E), Masc-R female homozygous for BmdsxMΔ7 (F), and normal female animals (g). e, egg; mg, mucous gland; ov, oviduct; sp., spermatheca; sr, seminal receptacle; tl, testis-like tissue. h–j High magnification images showing the apical end of the ovariole in Masc-R female heterozygous for BmdsxMΔ7h, Masc-R female homozygous for BmdsxMΔ7(I), and normal female animals j. The dotted line indicates the testis-like tissues