Epithelial and Mesenchymal Fate Decisions in Wolffian Duct Development

Overview

Journal Trends Endocrinol Metab

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2023 Jun 17

PMID 37330364

Authors

McKenna J Crossen

Jillian Wilbourne

Allyssa Fogarty

Fei Zhao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Wolffian ducts (WDs) are the paired embryonic structures that give rise to internal male reproductive tract organs. WDs are initially formed in both sexes but have sex-specific fates during sexual differentiation. Understanding WD differentiation requires insights into the process of fate decisions of epithelial and mesenchymal cells, which are tightly coordinated by endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine signals. In this review, we discuss current advances in understanding the fate-decision process of WD epithelial and mesenchymal lineages from their initial formation at the embryonic stage to postnatal differentiation. Finally, we discuss aberrant cell differentiation in WD abnormalities and pathologies and identify opportunities for future investigations.

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