Essential roles of inhibin beta A in mouse epididymal coiling.

ABSTRACT: Testis-derived testosterone has been recognized as the key factor for morphogenesis of the Wolffian duct, the precursor of several male reproductive tract structures. Evidence supports that testosterone is required for the maintenance of the Wolffian duct via its action on the mesenchyme. However, it remains uncertain how testosterone alone is able to facilitate formation of regionally specific structures such as the epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicle from a straight Wolffian duct. In this study, we identified inhibin beta A (or Inhba) as a regional paracrine factor in mouse mesonephroi that controls coiling of the epithelium in the anterior Wolffian duct, the future epididymis. Inhba was expressed specifically in the mesenchyme of the anterior Wolffian duct at embryonic day 12.

SUBMITTER: Tomaszewski J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2040897 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature