2026年10月29日，中国科学院动物研究所郭一菲等科学家在《科学》（Science）发表研究，揭示了人类器官发生过程中泌尿生殖系统共同发育的空间协调机制。

人类泌尿生殖系统起源于一个共同的胚胎区域，然而指导其时空协调的机制仍研究不足。在此，研究人员将高分辨率空间转录组学与单细胞多组学相结合，对Carnegie阶段15至23的人类胚胎进行了分析，捕获了泌尿生殖系统的共同发育动态。研究人员揭示了中肾和肾上腺原基来源的信号，这些信号促进性腺特化，并使体外高效生成类似早期性腺谱系的细胞成为可能。研究人员还发现，性腺支持细胞可能通过连接中肾的睾丸网或卵巢网而具有中肾起源。最后，研究人员描绘了三种转录上不同的类固醇生成谱系，它们在胆固醇来源、皮质醇合成和性激素产生方面存在差异，共同协调性别分化。这些发现加深了研究人员对泌尿生殖系统组装的理解，并指导对协调性多器官发育的探索。

附：英文原文

Title: Spatial coordination in the codevelopment of the human urogenital system during organogenesis

Author: Yifei Guo, Hui Cai, Duan Li, Pengcheng Ren, Lina Cui, Cuifang Hao, Hui Jiang, Zhe Zhang, Xiaoyan Wang, Jingtao Guo

Issue&Volume: 2026-10-29

Abstract: The human urogenital system originates from a common embryonic domain, yet the mechanisms guiding its spatiotemporal coordination remain understudied. Here, we combined high-resolution spatial transcriptomics with single-cell multiomics to profile human embryos from Carnegie stages 15 to 23, capturing the codevelopmental dynamics of the urogenital system. We revealed mesonephros- and adrenal primordium–derived signals that promote gonadal specification and enable efficient in vitro generation of cells resembling early gonadal lineages. We also uncovered a possible mesonephric origin of gonadal supporting cells through rete testis or ovarii linking the mesonephros. Finally, we delineate three transcriptionally distinct steroidogenic lineages differing in cholesterol sourcing, cortisol synthesis, and sex hormone production that together orchestrate sex differentiation. These findings deepen our understanding of urogenital system assembly and guide the exploration of coordinated multiorgan development.

DOI: 10.1126/science.aee5093

Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aee5093