New insights into Müllerian duct differentiation provided by single cell transcriptomics in the chicken embryo
- 1Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- 2Monash Genomics and Bioinformatics Platform, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- 3School of Bioscience, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Abstract
In vertebrate embryos, Müllerian ducts give rise to the female reproductive tract. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of Müllerian duct differentiation using single cell transcriptomics in the chicken embryo, a unique model for duct development. The data reveal greater cellular complexity of Müllerian duct differentiation than previously understood. Transcriptomic profiling of early formed Müllerian ducts identifies molecular signatures for the Müllerian duct Epithelium (MDE) and the Müllerian Duct Mesenchyme (MDM), the two principle compartments of the Müllerian duct. The MDE expresses PAX2, LHX1, WNT7, LGR5, PDGFA/D, and CDH1/2. The MDM is marked by WNT4, EMX2, POSTN, OSR1, VIM,DMRT and the EMT markers ZEB1/2. In the male, the regressing mesenchyme (MDM) has a unique molecular signature, expressing the transcription factors MSX1, MSX2, RUNX2, GATA5, DLX3 and DLX5, and the signaling regulators DKK4 and NRG1 (Neuregulin). Single cell transcript profiling of the regressing male mesenchyme identifies new genes implicated in duct regression, including the WNT antagonist, DKK4. DKK4, responds to Anti-Mullerian Hormone induction and can induce duct regression when ectopically expressed in females. The duct mesenchyme in the female follows a different fate, with a molecular signature comprising SMARCA2/ HMGA2/ZEB1/2/TWIST1/2/DMRT2 and persistent expression of FOXE1, OSR2 and HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor). Cell clusters in the developing female ducts reflects spatial pre-patterning of the duct prior to later regionalisation. In contrast to AMH-mediated bilateral Müllerian duct regression in males, female chicken embryos show an unusual pattern of left duct differentiation and contralateral right duct regression. We find that right female duct does not regress in the same manner as in males, being transcriptionally distinct and lacking a population of regressing mesenchyme, despite presumably being mediated by AMH, as in males. Author summary: In vertebrate embryos, Müllerian ducts give rise to the female reproductive tract. Aberrations in duct development cause reproductive disorders, many of which have an unknown etiology. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of Müllerian duct differentiation using single cell transcriptomics in the chicken embryo, a unique model for duct development. The data reveal greater cellular complexity of Müllerian duct differentiation than previously understood. Duct mesenchyme has two transcriptionally distinct populations, while duct epithelium shows distinct regionalised compartments. Trajectory analysis shows that these populations have different fates. Single cell transcript profiling of the regressing male mesenchyme identifies new genes implicated in duct regression. One of these male-restricted transcripts, DKK4, responds to Anti-Mullerian Hormone induction and can induce duct regression when ectopically expressed in females. Lastly, the right female duct does not regress in the same manner as in males, being transcriptionally distinct. These data provide new insights into Müllerian duct differentiation.
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BibTeX
@article{tan2026insights,
title = {{New insights into Müllerian duct differentiation provided by single cell transcriptomics in the chicken embryo}},
author = {Juan Lan Tan and Adele Barugahare and Andrew Thomas Major and Craig Allen Smith},
journal = {PLOS Genetics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1012302},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1012302},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - New insights into Müllerian duct differentiation provided by single cell transcriptomics in the chicken embryo
AU - Juan Lan Tan
AU - Adele Barugahare
AU - Andrew Thomas Major
AU - Craig Allen Smith
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - PLOS Genetics
DO - 10.1371/journal.pgen.1012302
UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1012302
AB - In vertebrate embryos, Müllerian ducts give rise to the female reproductive tract. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of Müllerian duct differentiation using single cell transcriptomics in the chicken embryo, a unique model for duct development. The data reveal greater cellular complexity of Müllerian duct differentiation than previously understood. Transcriptomic profiling of early formed Müllerian ducts identifies molecular signatures for the Müllerian duct Epithelium (MDE) and the Müllerian Duct Mesenchyme (MDM), the two principle compartments of the Müllerian duct. The MDE expresses PAX2, LHX1, WNT7, LGR5, PDGFA/D, and CDH1/2. The MDM is marked by WNT4, EMX2, POSTN, OSR1, VIM,DMRT and the EMT markers ZEB1/2. In the male, the regressing mesenchyme (MDM) has a unique molecular signature, expressing the transcription factors MSX1, MSX2, RUNX2, GATA5, DLX3 and DLX5, and the signaling regulators DKK4 and NRG1 (Neuregulin). Single cell transcript profiling of the regressing male mesenchyme identifies new genes implicated in duct regression, including the WNT antagonist, DKK4. DKK4, responds to Anti-Mullerian Hormone induction and can induce duct regression when ectopically expressed in females. The duct mesenchyme in the female follows a different fate, with a molecular signature comprising SMARCA2/ HMGA2/ZEB1/2/TWIST1/2/DMRT2 and persistent expression of FOXE1, OSR2 and HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor). Cell clusters in the developing female ducts reflects spatial pre-patterning of the duct prior to later regionalisation. In contrast to AMH-mediated bilateral Müllerian duct regression in males, female chicken embryos show an unusual pattern of left duct differentiation and contralateral right duct regression. We find that right female duct does not regress in the same manner as in males, being transcriptionally distinct and lacking a population of regressing mesenchyme, despite presumably being mediated by AMH, as in males. Author summary: In vertebrate embryos, Müllerian ducts give rise to the female reproductive tract. Aberrations in duct development cause reproductive disorders, many of which have an unknown etiology. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of Müllerian duct differentiation using single cell transcriptomics in the chicken embryo, a unique model for duct development. The data reveal greater cellular complexity of Müllerian duct differentiation than previously understood. Duct mesenchyme has two transcriptionally distinct populations, while duct epithelium shows distinct regionalised compartments. Trajectory analysis shows that these populations have different fates. Single cell transcript profiling of the regressing male mesenchyme identifies new genes implicated in duct regression. One of these male-restricted transcripts, DKK4, responds to Anti-Mullerian Hormone induction and can induce duct regression when ectopically expressed in females. Lastly, the right female duct does not regress in the same manner as in males, being transcriptionally distinct. These data provide new insights into Müllerian duct differentiation.
SN - 1553-7404
ER -