Figure 5
Expression of RSPO1 mRNA in the gonads of turtle embryos ( Trachemys scripta ) during the temperature-sensitive period. Expression levels were examined by quantitative real-time PCR in three samples per sex/stage. Mean +/- SEM. ● = female; ○ = male. A) Time course of T. scripta Rspo1 expression, showing higher expression in developing ovaries from stage 17 (p = 0.0318). B) Turtle Rspo1 expression following temperature shifts. Expression data at MPT and FPT at three early stages during the temperature-sensitive period is expanded and compared to the response of gene expression to a shift in temperature. Embryos were shifted at stage 16 from either MPT to FPT (MPT → FPT) or FPT to MPT (FPT → MPT) and gonads dissected for analysis at two subsequent timepoints, stage 16.5 and stage 17. Following a FPT → MPT shift, expression is significantly decreased within one stage from female-typical levels (p = 0.0253) and is not different from male-typical levels (p = 1.0000). Following a MPT → FPT shift, expression has not yet changed from MPT-typical levels. Asterisks indicate statistically significant difference in expression between sex within stage at the p = 0.05 significance level, after correction for multiple pair-wise comparison tests by Tukey's HSD.