Contacts between Wolffian and Müllerian cells at the tip of the outgrowing Müllerian duct in rat embryos

Acta Anat (Basel). 1984;120(3):123-8. doi: 10.1159/000145905.

Abstract

The developing Müllerian duct was studied at the light microscopic as well as the electron microscopic level in rat embryos, especially in the section of the terminal bud and its tip, where Wolffian and Müllerian duct are enclosed by a common basal membrane. In this zone desmosomes can be found among Wolffian cells and also among Müllerian cells. In addition, we found cell contacts between Müllerian and Wolffian cells, namely short electron-dense segments on adjacent surfaces or disc-shaped thickenings within opposite plasma membranes, as well as fusions of the plasmalemmata over short distances. Until now, these cell contacts have not been described in rat embryos.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Mullerian Ducts / cytology*
  • Mullerian Ducts / ultrastructure
  • Rats / embryology*
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Wolffian Ducts / cytology*
  • Wolffian Ducts / ultrastructure