Development of the Innervation of the Urogenital Complex in the Fetal Mouse

The developing urogenital complex of the fetal mouse was studied by means of silver impregnation and electron microscopy. These studies showed that: 1) the mesonephric field is innervated during prenatal stages (Wolffian nerve); 2) nerve penetration precedes the differentiation of the gonads and related ducts; and 3) the Wolffian nerve arises during the earliest stages from the first pair of abdominal rami communicantes. The identity between the fetal Wolffian nerve and the nerve of the suspensory ligament (higher pathway) of the adult is discussed.