Müllerian-Inhibiting Substance: Critical Roles in Sexual Differentiation

摘要: Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the molecular approaches and tools that have been used to advance understanding of Mullerian-inhibiting substance (MIS) from a “Mullerian inhibitor”. Production rhMIS for biochemical analysis has revealed similarities TGF-β family growth modulators, including bioactivity its C-terminal domain. Study activin receptors is providing new insight into possible mechanisms MIS action. The sexually dimorphic expression characterized correlated with postulated in vivo functions fetus adult. Such biological roles include: primary gonadal differentiation involution female reproductive ducts during normal male sexual development, regulation germ cell meiosis, modulation fetal lung maturation surfactant production utero. control secretion differentiation, postnatal puberty, adulthood remains an area intensive investigation; SRY, gonadotropins, steroids, other unidentified factors, site-specific proteolytic enzymes play role this exquisite regulation.