Epithelial‐mesenchymal crosstalk in Wolffian duct and fetal testis cord development

Archambeault, Denise R.; Tomaszewski, Jessica; Joseph, Avenel; Hinton, Barry T.; Yao, Hisayuki

doi:10.1002/dvg.20453

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Communication between the epithelium and mesenchyme is a two-way street. Interplay between the stromal and epithelial compartments of the developing reproductive tract is essential for normal epididymal development (Atanassova et al 2005;Archambeault et al 2009).…”

Section: Theory Regarding the Origin Of Basal Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are the basal cells of the mammalian epididymis still an enigma?

Arrighi

2014

Reprod. Fertil. Dev.

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Basal cells are present in the columnar pseudostratified epithelium covering the epididymis of all mammalian species, which regulates the microenvironment where the functionally incompetent germ cells produced by the testis are matured and stored. Striking novelties have come from investigations on epididymal basal cells in the past 30-40 years. In addition to an earlier hypothesised scavenger role for basal cells, linked to their proven extratubular origin and the expression of macrophage antigens, basal cells have been shown to be involved in cell-cell cross-talk, as well as functioning as luminal sensors to regulate the activity of principal and clear cells. Involvement of basal cells in the regulation of electrolyte and water transport by principal cells was hypothesised. This control is suggested to be mediated by the local formation of prostaglandins. Members of the aquaporin (AQP) and/or aquaglyceroporin family (AQP3, AQP7 and AQP8) are also specifically expressed in the rat epididymal basal cells. Transport of glycerol and glycerylphosphorylcholine from the epithelium of the epididymis to the lumen in relation to sperm maturation may be mediated by AQP. Most probably basal cells collaborate to the building up of the blood-epididymis barrier through cell adhesion molecules, implying an involvement in immune control exerted towards sperm cells, which are foreigners in the environment in which they were produced.

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Section: Theory Regarding the Origin Of Basal Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are the basal cells of the mammalian epididymis still an enigma?

Arrighi

2014

Reprod. Fertil. Dev.

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“…We and others have also shown that CA β-catenin causes sterility in males by inhibiting postnatal Sertoli maturation and spermatogenesis (18)(19)(20). Given the requirement for Wnt signaling in MD development (21) and the relative paucity of reports linking Wnt signaling and Wolffian duct (WD) differentiation, we examined whether dysregulated β-catenin activity in the adjacent MD mesenchyme affected normal WD development into the epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicles (22,23). We show that CA β-catenin expression in the MD mesenchyme results in focal MD retention and adjacent WD obstruction, which leads to azoospermia and infertility secondary to seminiferous tubule degeneration and defective spermatogenesis that develops later in the adult (18,19).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Focal Müllerian duct retention in male mice with constitutively activated β-catenin expression in the Müllerian duct mesenchyme

Tanwar¹,

Zhang²,

Tanaka³

et al. 2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Müllerian-inhibiting substance (MIS), which is produced by fetal Sertoli cells shortly after commitment of the bipotential gonads to testicular differentiation, causes Müllerian duct (MD) regression. In the fetal female gonads, MIS is not expressed and the MDs will differentiate into the internal female reproductive tract. We have investigated whether dysregulated β-catenin activity affects MD regression by expressing a constitutively activated nuclear form of β-catenin in the MD mesenchyme. We show that constitutively activated (CA) β-catenin causes focal retention of MD tissue in the epididymides and vasa deferentia. In adult mutant mice, the retained MD tissues express α-smooth muscle actin and desmin, which are markers for uterine differentiation. MD retention inhibited the folding complexity of the developing epididymides and usually led to obstructive azoospermia by spermatoceles. The MDs of urogenital ridges from mutant female embryos showed less regression with added MIS in organ culture compared with control MDs when analyzed by whole mount in situ hybridization for Wnt7a as a marker for the MD epithelium. CA β-catenin did not appear to affect expression of either MIS in the embryonic testes or its type II receptor (AMHR2) in the MD mesenchyme nor did it inhibit pSmad1/5/8 nuclear accumulation, suggesting that dysregulated β-catenin must inhibit MD regression independently of MIS signaling. These studies suggest that dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the MD mesenchyme might also be a contributing factor in persistent Müllerian duct syndrome, a form of male pseudohermaphroditism, and development of spermatoceles.anti-Müllerian hormone | epididymis | Mullerian inhibiting substance type II receptor (MISRII or MISR2) | spermatocele | epididymis

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“…Wolffian duct differentiation into the epididymides, vas deferentia, and seminal vesicles starts at E15.5 and is completed within the first 2 weeks of postnatal life (Archambeault et al, 2009). In contrast, primordial follicles, the first stage of ovarian folliculogenesis, form between P1 and P3 (Wilhelm et al, 2007), and Müllerian ducts differentiate into the oviducts, uterus, cervix, and upper vagina during the first 2 weeks of postnatal life.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic expression of Tbx2 subfamily genes in development of the mouse reproductive system

Douglas

Heng

Sauer

et al. 2011

Developmental Dynamics

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Background Tbx2, Tbx3, Tbx4, and Tbx5, members of the Tbx2 subfamily of T-box transcription factor genes, are important for many aspects of embryonic development and mutations in some human TBX2 subfamily genes cause developmental syndromes. In addition, TBX2 and TBX3 are overexpressed in a variety of cancers, including reproductive system cancers. This study characterizes the expression of Tbx2 subfamily genes during development of the reproductive system. Results We show that these genes are expressed in both the internal and external reproductive systems. Tbx2 is expressed in gonads and genital ducts, the Wolffian and Müllerian ducts, while Tbx3 is only expressed in genital ducts. Tbx4 is expressed in embryonic and postnatal germ cells. All four genes are expressed in mesenchyme in external genitalia, with Tbx3 and Tbx5 expression in the epithelium as well. Conclusion This study lays the foundation for investigation of functional requirements for Tbx2 subfamily genes in development of the mammalian reproductive system.

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Epithelial‐mesenchymal crosstalk in Wolffian duct and fetal testis cord development

Cited by 16 publications

References 74 publications

Are the basal cells of the mammalian epididymis still an enigma?

Are the basal cells of the mammalian epididymis still an enigma?

Focal Müllerian duct retention in male mice with constitutively activated β-catenin expression in the Müllerian duct mesenchyme

Dynamic expression of Tbx2 subfamily genes in development of the mouse reproductive system

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