Molecular cloning and analysis of gonadal expression of Foxl2 in the medaka, Oryzias latipes

Foxl2 is a member of the winged helix/forkhead family of transcription factors and is known to be involved in ovarian development in some vertebrates. To address the role of Foxl2 in ovarian differentiation in medaka, we isolated Foxl2 cDNA and analyzed its expression patterns during sex differentiation. Expression of Foxl2 started in somatic cells surrounding germ cells in XX gonads, just after initiation of ovarian differentiation, and was maintained in granulosa cells throughout ovarian development. In the adult ovary, Foxl2 was expressed in previtellogenic and vitellogenic follicles, but expression ceased in postvitellogenic follicles. In contrast, Foxl2 mRNA could not be detected in testes. In addition, Foxl2 and aromatase mRNAs were co-localized in some somatic cells located on the ventral side of developing XX gonads. Our results suggested that Foxl2 was not involved in ovarian determination, but was involved in differentiation of granulosa cells in medaka.