Differentiation of smooth muscle in the genital tract of the female mouse and its temporal relation with the development of the Wolffian nerve

Brauer, M. Mónica; Passaro, Mario; Casanova, Gabriela; Abeledo, G.; Barreiro, Pedro

doi:10.1007/bf00305067

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…This may be direct or indirect through the epithelial-directed differentiation of the stroma. Another explanation for the development of the outer longitudinal muscle structure is that the uterine serosa provides instructive cues for uterine mesenchymal cell differentiation (Brauer et al, 1989). Thus, uterine tissue layer specification, survival and differentiation are highly dependent on the presence of epithelial cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lhx1 is required in Müllerian duct epithelium for uterine development

Huang¹,

Orvis²,

Kwan³

et al. 2014

Developmental Biology

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The female reproductive tract organs of mammals, including the oviducts, uterus, cervix and upper vagina, are derived from the Müllerian ducts, a pair of epithelial tubes that form within the mesonephroi. The Müllerian ducts form in a rostral to caudal manner, guided by and dependent on the Wolffian ducts that have already formed. Experimental embryological studies indicate that caudal elongation of the Müllerian duct towards the urogenital sinus occurs in part by proliferation at the ductal tip. The molecular mechanisms that regulate the elongation of the Müllerian duct are currently unclear. Lhx1 encodes a LIM-homeodomain transcription factor that is essential for male and female reproductive tract development. Lhx1 is expressed in both the Wolffian and Müllerian ducts. Wolffian duct-specific knockout of Lhx1 results in degeneration of the Wolffian duct and consequently the non cell-autonomous loss of the Müllerian duct. To determine the role of Lhx1 specifically in the Müllerian duct epithelium, we performed a Müllerian duct-specific knockout study using Wnt7a-Cre mice. Loss of Lhx1 in the Müllerian duct epithelium led to a block in Müllerian duct elongation and uterine hypoplasia characterized by loss of the entire endometrium (luminal and glandular epithelium and stroma) and inner circular but not the outer longitudinal muscle layer. Time-lapse imaging and molecular analyses indicate that Lhx1 acts cell autonomously to maintain ductal progenitor cells for Müllerian duct elongation. These studies identify LHX1 as the first transcription factor that is essential in the Müllerian duct epithelial progenitor cells for female reproductive tract development. Furthermore, these genetic studies demonstrate the requirement of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions for uterine tissue compartment differentiation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%