Oviduct epithelial cells constitute two developmentally distinct lineages that are spatially separated along the distal-proximal axis

Abstract

Owing to technical advances in single cell biology, the appreciation of cellular heterogeneity has increased, which has aided our understanding of organ function, homeostasis and disease progression. The oviduct (also known as the fallopian tube in humans) is the distal-most portion of the female reproductive tract. It is essential for reproduction and the proposed origin of high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). In mammals, the oviduct is morphologically segmented along the ovary-uterus axis into four evolutionally conserved regions. It is unknown however if there is a diversification of epithelial cell characteristics between these regions. In this study, we identified transcriptionally distinct populations of secretory and multiciliated cells restricted to the distal and proximal regions of the oviduct. We demonstrated that these distal and proximal populations are distinct lineages specified early in Mullerian duct development and are maintained separately. These results aid our understanding of epithelial development, homeostasis and initiation of disease from the oviduct.