[Presumed role of the gravity in the establishment of the symmetrization in amphibian embryos. Response provided by the biological experimentation in space].

During the early embryonic development of the amphibian, several events are presumed to be dependent on the ground gravity (egg rotation of equilibrium, formation of the grey crescent, symmetrization, cleavage). Will development occur normally in the absence of the gravity? The experience FERTILE had led to obtain in weightlessness, onboard the space station Mir, the natural fertilization and the embryonic development of the salamander Pleurodeles waltl, an amphibian urodele. All the embryos developed in microgravity acquired normal bilateral symmetry.

Sex reversal by aromatase inhibitor treatment in the newt Pleurodeles waltl.

Pleurodeles waltl is a newt with a ZZ male-ZW female sex determination mechanism, and a temperature-sensitive gonadal sex differentiation. Raising larvae at 32 degrees C from stage 42 to stage 54 (thermosensitive period) drives genetic females to differentiate into functional males. Estrogens are intimately linked with temperature action in this species, as well as in other vertebrates with temperature-dependent sex determination.