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Follistatin operates downstream of Wnt4 in mammalian ovary organogenesis
Author(s) -
Yao Humphrey H.C.,
Matzuk Martin M.,
Jorgez Carolina J.,
Menke Douglas B.,
Page David C.,
Swain Amanda,
Capel Blanche
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.20042
Subject(s) - wnt4 , biology , follistatin , ovary , microbiology and biotechnology , placentation , organogenesis , wnt signaling pathway , placenta , medicine , endocrinology , signal transduction , genetics , fetus , gene , pregnancy
Wnt4 ‐/‐ XX gonads display features normally associated with testis differentiation, suggesting that WNT4 actively represses elements of the male pathway during ovarian development. Here, we show that follistatin ( Fst ), which encodes a TGFβ superfamily binding protein, is a downstream component of Wnt4 signaling. Fst inhibits formation of the XY‐specific coelomic vessel in XX gonads. In addition, germ cells in the ovarian cortex are almost completely lost in both Wnt4 and Fst null gonads before birth. Thus, we propose that WNT4 acts through FST to regulate vascular boundaries and maintain germ cell survival in the ovary. Developmental Dynamics 230:210–215, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.