The cell biology and molecular genetics of Müllerian duct development

Abstract

The Müllerian ducts are part of the embryonic urogenital system. They give rise to mature structures that serve a critical function in the transport and development of the oocyte and/or embryo. In most vertebrates, both sexes initially develop Müllerian ducts during embryogenesis, but they regress in males under the influence of testis-derived Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH). A number of regulatory factors have been shown to be essential for proper duct development, including Bmp and Wnt signaling molecules, together with homeodomain transcription factors such as PAX2 and LIM1. Later in development, the fate of the ducts diverges between males and females and is regulated by AMH and Wnt signaling molecules (duct regression in males) and Hox genes (duct patterning in females). Most of the genes and molecular pathways known to be involved in Müllerian duct development have been elucidated through animal models, namely, the mouse and chicken. In addition, genetic analysis of humans with reproductive tract disorders has further defined molecular mechanisms of duct formation and differentiation. However, despite our current understanding of Müllerian duct development, some questions remain to be answered at the molecular genetic level. This article is categorized under: Early Embryonic Development > Development to the Basic Body Plan.

Innervation of internal female genital organs in the pig during prenatal development

“…; Roly et al. ; Stoops et al ). The lack of a gene causes the undifferentiated gonad to transform into an ovary.…”

“…; Roly et al. ) as well as the mechanisms and factors affecting the transformation of these ducts, into particular parts of the female reproductive system, i.e. fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and the upper third of the vagina, based on the development of humans (Hashimoto, ; Kobayashi & Behringer, ) and animals such as mice (Orvis & Behringer, ; Massé et al.…”

“…) and chickens (Orvis & Behringer, ; Roly et al. ). Although there is considerable knowledge of the development of particular organs of the internal reproductive tract, there are few data on the formation of the innervation of these organs at various stages of development (Olfat & Rahman, ).…”

“…It is known that the genes determining sex, as well as molecular mechanisms have an influence on the further development of gonads and other parts of the genital system (Capel et al 1999;Hashimoto, 2003;Guioli et al 2007;Orvis & Behringer, 2007;Mullen & Behringer, 2014). An important factor in the differentiation of gonads is the SRY gene, located on the short arm of the Y chromosome (Saberivand & Ahsan, 2016;Katsura et al 2018;Roly et al 2018;Stoops et al 2018). The lack of a gene causes the undifferentiated gonad to transform into an ovary.…”

“…There is also information on the mechanisms involved in the formation of the paramesonephric ducts (Behringer et al 1994;Guioli et al 2007;Orvis & Behringer, 2007;Mass e et al 2009;Roly et al 2018) as well as the mechanisms and factors affecting the transformation of these ducts, into particular parts of the female reproductive system, i.e. fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and the upper third of the vagina, based on the development of humans (Hashimoto, 2003;Kobayashi & Behringer, 2003) and animals such as mice (Orvis & Behringer, 2007;Mass e et al 2009;Kurita, 2010;Georgas et al 2015) and chickens (Orvis & Behringer, 2007;Roly et al 2018). Although there is considerable knowledge of the development of particular organs of the internal reproductive tract, there are few data on the formation of the innervation of these organs at various stages of development (Olfat & Rahman, 1978).…”