In the mouse, the activity of Sry (sex-determining gene on the Y chromosome) 
initiates the transformation of the indifferent gonad into a testis. In humans, 
a partial Xp21 duplication leads to the development of ovaries instead of testes 
in XY individuals. This observation indicates that sex determination might also 
be influenced by a gene-dosage compensation mechanism, in addition to a dominant 
action of the Sry gene. In female mammals, the regulation of X-linked gene 
dosage at early embryogenesis is achieved through the inactivation of one of the 
two X chromosomes. Here we have investigated the possibility that inactivation 
of the X chromosome may play a role in male sex determination. We have shown, 
using an X-linked lacZ transgenic mouse line, that loss of beta-galactosidase 
activity occurs in certain somatic cells of the developing male urogenital 
ridge. When changes associated with apoptosis of mesonephric tubules in the 
developing urogenital ridges are taken into account, expression of the Xist (X 
inactive specific transcript) gene correlates with X inactivation revealed by 
loss of beta-galactosidase activity in very early mesonephric tubule epithelial 
cells, gonadal interstitial mesenchymal cells and coelomic epithelial cells.