Vagina Development

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Introduction

Section through newborn female

The embryonic origin of the vagina has been a historically hotly debated issue with several different contributions and origins described. Current molecular studies show the whole vagina epithelium is derived from the paramesonephric (Müllerian) duct with bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) reshaping the intermediate mesoderm-derived Müllerian duct into the vaginal primordium.[1] Transgenic studies in mice also identified the developmental origin of vaginal epithelium derived solely from Müllerian duct epithelium.[2] Vaginal development is also under negative control of androgens.

Paramesonephric duct = Müllerian duct and Mesonephric duct = Wolffian duct.


See also for external genitalia Integumentary System Development.

History

An earlier description gave the vagina arising by downward growth of the Wolffian and Mullerian ducts, with the sinovaginal bulbs located at the caudal ends of the Wolffian ducts. An earlier understanding was that the upper part of the vagina derived from Müllerian ducts and the lower part from the sinovaginal bulbs (formed by fusion form the vaginal plate) all derived from the urogenital sinus. The terms sinovaginal bulbs and vaginal plate were first coined by Koff in 1933.[3] Acién's hypothesis, related to abnormalities and the embryology of the human vagina as deriving from the Wolffian ducts and the Müllerian tubercle.


Genital Links: genital | Lecture - Medicine | Lecture - Science | Lecture Movie | Medicine - Practical | primordial germ cell | meiosis | endocrine gonad‎ | Genital Movies | genital abnormalities | Assisted Reproductive Technology | puberty | Category:Genital
Female | X | X inactivation | ovary | corpus luteum | oocyte | uterus | vagina | reproductive cycles | menstrual cycle | Category:Female
Male | Y | SRY | testis | spermatozoa | ductus deferens | penis | prostate | Category:Male
Historic Embryology - Genital 
General: 1901 Urinogenital Tract | 1902 The Uro-Genital System | 1904 Ovary and Testis | 1912 Urinogenital Organ Development | 1914 External Genitalia | 1921 Urogenital Development | 1921 External Genital | 1942 Sex Cords | 1953 Germ Cells | Historic Embryology Papers | Historic Disclaimer
Female: 1904 Ovary and Testis | 1904 Hymen | 1912 Urinogenital Organ Development | 1914 External Genitalia | 1914 Female | 1921 External Genital | 1927 Female Foetus 15 cm | 1927 Vagina | 1932 Postnatal Ovary
Male: 1887-88 Testis | 1904 Ovary and Testis | 1904 Leydig Cells | 1906 Testis vascular | 1909 Prostate | 1912 Prostate | 1914 External Genitalia | 1915 Cowper’s and Bartholin’s Glands | 1920 Wolffian tubules | 1935 Prepuce | 1935 Wolffian Duct | 1942 Sex Cords | 1943 Testes Descent | Historic Embryology Papers | Historic Disclaimer

Some Recent Findings

Historic image
  • Normal and abnormal epithelial differentiation in the female reproductive tract[4] "In mammals, the female reproductive tract (FRT) develops from a pair of paramesonephric or Müllerian ducts (MDs), which arise from coelomic epithelial cells of mesodermal origin. During development, the MDs undergo a dynamic morphogenetic transformation from simple tubes consisting of homogeneous epithelium and surrounding mesenchyme into several distinct organs namely the oviduct, uterus, cervix and vagina."
  • Vaginal microbiome of reproductive-age women[5] "The means by which vaginal microbiomes help prevent urogenital diseases in women and maintain health are poorly understood. To gain insight into this, the vaginal bacterial communities of 396 asymptomatic North American women who represented four ethnic groups (white, black, Hispanic, and Asian) were sampled and the species composition characterized by pyrosequencing of barcoded 16S rRNA genes. The communities clustered into five groups: four were dominated by Lactobacillus iners, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, or L. jensenii, whereas the fifth had lower proportions of lactic acid bacteria and higher proportions of strictly anaerobic organisms, indicating that a potential key ecological function, the production of lactic acid, seems to be conserved in all communities. The proportions of each community group varied among the four ethnic groups, and these differences were statistically significant [χ(2)(10) = 36.8, P < 0.0001]. Moreover, the vaginal pH of women in different ethnic groups also differed and was higher in Hispanic (pH 5.0 ± 0.59) and black (pH 4.7 ± 1.04) women as compared with Asian (pH 4.4 ± 0.59) and white (pH 4.2 ± 0.3) women."
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Search term: Vagina Embryology

<pubmed limit=5>Vagina Embryology</pubmed>

Paramesonephic Duct

The paired paramesonephic ducts (Müllerian ducts) go through a series of developmental changes recently identified as regulated by a number of molecular factors.

Female Uterus and Vagina (between week 9 and 20)
Uterus 001 icon.jpg
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The entire vagina is formed from the paramesonephric (Müllerian) duct (red) and does not have a contribution from the urogenital endoderm (yellow).

Molecular

Wnt 4

Processes regulated by Wnt4 during female reproductive tract development

Wnt4 is required during prenatal and postnatal development of female reproductive tract.

The initial MD primordium occurs independently of Wnt4 function (E11.5, the MD primordium in red).

After initiation of the process, differentiation of the MD tip cells, prenatal elongation of the MD and postnatal formation of the endometrial gland (eG) all depend on Wnt4 signalling.

The daughter cells that are initially Wnt4+ contribute to MD and eG formation. (text from figure legend)


Myo, myometrium; E, endometrium; eG, endometrial glands; L, lumen.

Female reproductive tract Wnt4.jpg

Female reproductive tract Wnt4[6]

Links: Developmental Signals - Wnt

Retinoic acid

In mice, the epithelial fate of female reproductive organs is determined by factors secreted from the stroma. Retinoic acid-Retinoic acid Receptor signaling in the Müllerian duct determines the fate of stroma to form the future uterus and vagina.[7]

Links: Developmental Signals - Retinoic acid

Initiation

Coelomic epithelium Lim1 expressing cells are specified to a duct fate.

  • Lim - proteins named for 'LIN11, ISL1, and MEC3,' are defined by the possession of a highly conserved double zinc finger motif called the LIM domain.
    • LIM domain-binding factors - interact with the LIM domains of nuclear proteins are capable of binding to a variety of transcription factors.

Invagination

Duct invagination induced by Wnt4 to reach the mesonephric (Wolffian)

Elongation

Cells at the leading tip proliferate and form the duct elongating to reach the cloaca (urogenital sinus). Mesonephric secretes WNT9b to guide duct elongation. Pax2 also acts in elongation and duct maintenance.

  • WNT9b - member of the WNT protein family that encode cysteine-rich secreted glycoproteins that act as extracellular signaling factors.
  • Pax2 - member of the paired box protein family.


Links: Developmental Signals - Wnt | OMIM - WNT9b | OMIM - Pax2 | OMIM - paired box gene

Postnatal Development

A study in mouse has identified Dicer, a riboendonuclease required for microRNA biosynthesis, to be required for postnatal growth if the female reproductive tract.[8]

Adult Dimensions

A recent study using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has accurately measured the dimensions of the adult vagina.[9]

"Seventy-seven MRI scans were performed on 28 women before gel application to establish baseline vaginal measurements. Average dimensions were calculated for each woman and for the population. The influence of potential covariates (age, height, weight and parity) on these dimensions was assessed. ...Mean vaginal length from cervix to introitus was 62.7 mm. Vaginal width was largest in the proximal vagina (32.5 mm), decreased as it passed through the pelvic diaphragm (27.8 mm) and smallest at the introitus (26.2 mm)."

Other Species

Female cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) and hippopotamuses have unusual vaginal folds of tissue that are of unknown function(s).[10]


Abnormalities

Magnetic resonance image (Axial T2-W) OHVIRA syndrome showing uterine didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ectopic ureter on MR imaging in a 17-year-old girl.

Mayer- Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome

(MRKH) Abnormality of development of the female genital tract: partial or complete absence (agenesis) of the uterus; absent or hypoplastic vagina; normal fallopian tubes, ovaries, normal external genitalia and normal female chromosome pattern (46, XX). Has an incidence of approximately 1 in 4500 newborn girls and has been associated with a microdeletion at 17q12.[11]

OHVIRA Syndrome

Obstructed HemiVagina and Ipsilateral Renal Anomaly with uterine didelphysis is a syndrome due to lateral non-fusion of the Mullerian ducts with asymmetric obstruction. The presence of vaginal septum also gives rise to other clinical conditions.

OHVIRA Syndrome Magnetic Resonance Images

Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine disruptors in female reproductive tract development and carcinogenesis.[12]


Additional Images

Historic

References

  1. <pubmed>19598112</pubmed>
  2. <pubmed>20638775</pubmed>
  3. <pubmed>12332362</pubmed>
  4. <pubmed>21612855</pubmed>
  5. <pubmed>20534435</pubmed>
  6. <pubmed>26721931</pubmed>
  7. <pubmed>27911779</pubmed>
  8. <pubmed>19197916</pubmed>
  9. <pubmed>16478763</pubmed>
  10. <pubmed>28362830</pubmed>
  11. <pubmed>1988902</pubmed>
  12. <pubmed>19709900</pubmed>


Reviews

<pubmed>19598112</pubmed> <pubmed>16208476</pubmed> <pubmed>15467266</pubmed>

Articles

<pubmed>24172012</pubmed> <pubmed>17532316</pubmed> <pubmed>17070514</pubmed> <pubmed>14695376</pubmed> <pubmed>12740945</pubmed> <pubmed>12449044</pubmed> <pubmed>15086027</pubmed> <pubmed>19598112</pubmed> <pubmed>15821572</pubmed> <pubmed>18391520</pubmed>


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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, March 28) Embryology Vagina Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Vagina_Development

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