Delay in ovarian differentiation in the absence of insulin/IGF signaling, irrespective of the genetic sex.

<p>Expression of key ovarian genes (<i>Wnt4</i>, <i>Fst</i>, <i>Irx3</i>, <i>Lef1</i> and <i>Foxl2</i>) was assessed in XX or XY genital ridges/mesonephroi either by qRT-PCR (A–C), whole mount <i>in situ</i> hybridization (D–J), or with double immunofluorescence using the female marker FOXL2 (green) along with E–cadherin (red; K–V). We observed a significant reduction in levels of <i>Foxl2</i>, <i>Wnt4</i>, <i>Fst</i>, <i>Irx3</i> and <i>Lef1</i> in E12.5 and E13.5 dko gonads suggesting a delay in ovarian differentiation both in XX and XY dko embryos. REL, relative expression levels. Values are expressed as means ± SEM, *p<0.05, **p<0.01 versus control.