Expression and localization of gonadotropic hormone subunits (Gpa, Fshb, and Lhb) in the pituitary during gonadal differentiation in medaka

• The dynamics of Gth cells during gonadal differentiation was examined in medaka.
• Fsh cells became differentiated after sex determination before hatching.
• Sexual dimorphism in Fsh cells occurs transiently after sex determination.
• The d-rR (Shizuoka) strain of medaka is a good model for clarifying Fsh cell differentiation.

To clarify the appearance of and chronological changes in two different gonadotropic hormone (Gth) cells, we examined the dynamics of Gth cells in detail during gonadal differentiation and development in the d-rR strain of medaka (Oryzias latipes). Expression of the sex-determining gene Dmy was evident in gonadal somatic cells at 5 days post-fertilization (dpf). Glycoprotein-α (Gpa)-positive cells first appeared in the pituitary at 4 dpf, regardless of genetic sex, while follicle-stimulating hormone-β (Fshb)-positive cells was detected in XX and XY embryos at 5 and 6 dpf, respectively. In contrast, luteinizing hormone-β (Lhb)-positive cells were observed in both sexes of medaka after 70 days post-hatching (dph). The density of Fshb-positive cells in the pituitary was significantly and transiently higher in XX than in XY fry at 0 dph, and thereafter no significant differences were detected before sexual maturation. In this study, temporal expression of Fshb was observed, indicating that Fsh cells become differentiated before hatching and that sexual dimorphism in Fsh cells occurs transiently after sex determination in medaka.