Paracrine-Mediated Apoptosis in Reproductive Tract Development

In mammalian development, the signaling pathways that couple extracellular death signals with the apoptotic machinery are still poorly understood. We chose to examine Müllerian duct regression in the developing reproductive tract as a possible model of apoptosis during morphogenesis. The TGFβ-like hormone, Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS), initiates regression of the Müllerian duct or female reproductive tract anlagen; this event is...