Elongation of Mullerian ducts and connection to urogenital sinus determine the borderline of uterine and vaginal development.

ABSTRACT: In female mice, proximal, middle and caudal Müllerian ducts (MDs) differentiate into oviduct, uterus and vagina, respectively. The fates of female reproductive tract epithelia are determined by the mesenchyme. However, the mesenchymal fate determination system is still unclear. It is reported that presence or absence of retinoic acid (RA) signaling in MD mesenchyme induced uterine or vaginal mesenchyme, respectively. To analyze determination of the borderline, RA signal switching factors were found to play critical roles. Expression of a RA metabolizing enzyme, CYP26A1, was high in the epithelium of caudal MD and urogenital sinus, indicating that the enzyme causes the absence of RA signaling in the region. mRNA expression of some transcription factors regulating Aldh1a2, RA synthesi

SUBMITTER: Nakajima T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6279966 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature