Open AccessDevelopment of the human Müllerian duct in the sexually undifferentiated stage
Author(s) -
Hashimoto Ryozo
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the anatomical record part a: discoveries in molecular, cellular, and evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1552-4892
pISSN - 1552-4884
DOI - 10.1002/ar.a.10061
Subject(s) - duct (anatomy) , mesonephric duct , anatomy , invagination , mullerian ducts , biology , embryo , embryogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , uterus , endocrinology , kidney
Abstract An embryological explanation for the development of the Müllerian duct still poses a major challenge. The development of this duct was investigated systematically in human embryos. Seven embryos (Carnegie stages 18–23) were serially sectioned in the frontal, sagittal, and transversal planes at a thickness of 10 μm and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for histological analysis. In all observed embryos, the caudal end of the Müllerian duct was found to be intimately connected to the Wolffian duct. The opening of the Müllerian duct to the coelomic cavity was formed as the result of an invagination of the coelomic epithelium at Carnegie stage 18. The duct grew independently from the invagination during stages 19–23. The fused duct (uterovaginal canal) bifurcated at the caudal portion at Carnegie stages 22 and 23. This is the first description of the caudal portion of the fused Müllerian ducts separating again and returning to each of the Wolffian ducts in human embryos. Anat Rec Part A 272A:514–519, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.