Expression of SRY transcripts in preimplantation human embryos

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We have examined the expression of SRY mRNA in individual in vitro fertilized preimplantation human embryos; because of ethical constraints, these studies were confined to embryos with one and three pronuclei. Using a sensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) assay, we observed SRY mRNA at the one-cell through the blastula stages but not in spermatozoa. These results indicate that the de novo transcription of this sex-specific gene occurs at a developmental time considerably earlier than that of gonadal differentiation. Our results also indicate that in vitro fertilized embryos with one pronucleus are likely to be diploid.