Published online before print 11 June 2014. DOI 10.1095/biolreprod.114.119016 Juvenile Ovary to Testis Transition in Zebrafish Involves Inhibition of Ptges1

The sex differentiation mechanisms in zebrafish (Danio rerio) remains elusive, partly because of the absence of sex chromo-somes but also because the process appears to depend on the synchrony of multiple genes and possibly environmental factors. Zebrafish gonadal development is initiated through the devel-opment of immature oocytes. Depending on multiple signaling cues, in about half of the individuals, the juvenile ovaries degenerate or undergo apoptosis to initiate testes development while the other half maintains the oogenic pathway. We have previously shown that activation of NFjB and prostaglandin synthase 2 (ptgs2) results in female-biased sex ratios. Prosta-glandin synthase and prostaglandins are involved in multiple physiological functions, including cell survival and apoptosis. In the present study, we show that inhibition of ptgs2 by meloxicam results in male-biased sex ratios. On further evaluation, we observed that exposure with the prostaglandi