Cellular mechanisms of Müllerian duct formation in the mouse

摘要

Regardlessoftheirsexchromosomekaryotype,amniotesdeveloptwopairsofgenitalducts,theWolffianandMuuml;llerianducts.AstheMuuml;llerianductforms,itsgrowingtipisintimatelyassociatedwiththeWolffianductasitelongatestotheurogenitalsinus.PreviousstudieshaveshownthatthepresenceoftheWolffianductisrequiredforthedevelopmentandmaintenanceoftheMuuml;llerianduct.TheMuuml;llerianductisknowntoformbyinvaginationofthecoelomicepithelium,butthemechanismforitselongationtotheurogenitalsinusremainstobedefined.Usinggeneticfatemapping,wedemonstratethattheWolffianductdoesnotcontributecellstotheMuuml;llerianduct.ExperimentalembryologicalmanipulationsandmolecularstudiesshowthatprecursorcellsatthecaudaltipoftheMuuml;llerianductproliferatetodepositacordofcellsalongthelengthoftheurogenitalridge.Furthermore,immunohistochemicalanalysisrevealsthatthecellsofthedevelopingMuuml;llerianductaremesoepithelialwhendeposited,andsubsequentlydifferentiateintoanepithelialtubeandeventuallythefemalereproductivetract.OurstudiesdefinecellularandmolecularmechanismsforMuuml;llerianductformation./p/div