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Developmental changes in paramesonephric and mesonephric ducts and anogenital distance in fetal Mongolian gerbils
1Department of Laboratory Animal Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Abstract:
On day 13 of gestation in Mongolian gerbil fetuses, the mesonephric (Wolffian) duct was already visible. On day 14, the anlage of the paramesonephric (Müllerian) duct was first observed close to the mesonephric duct in both sexes at the cranial part of the mesonephros. Thereafter, the paramesonephric duct grew caudally in parallel with the mesonephric duct. On day 19, the duct reached the urogenital sinus. At this stage, the anogenital distance was significantly longer in male than in female. Also in male, the mesonephric duct was increased and the paramesonephric duct was decreased in diameter compared with those in female. These suggest that both testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormone are produced in fetal Mongolian gerbils at least before day 19 of gestation.