The Notch signaling pathway is conserved among mammalian species and controls proliferation, differentiation, and cell death in many organs throughout the body including the reproductive tract. Notch signaling plays critical roles in the development and function of both the male and female reproductive systems. Specifically, within the female reproductive tract, Notch signaling is hormone regulated and mediates key reproductive events important for ovarian and uterine function. In this review, we highlight the tissues that express Notch receptors, ligands, and downstream effectors and distinguish how these molecules regulate reproductive function in male and female mice, non-human primates, and humans. Finally, we describe some of the aberrations in Notch signaling in female reproductive pathologies and identify opportunities for future investigation.

Notch 信号通路在哺乳动物物种中是保守的，它控制着包括生殖道在内的全身许多器官的增殖、分化和细胞死亡。Notch 信号在男性和女性生殖系统的发育和功能中起着关键作用。具体而言，在女性生殖道内，Notch 信号受激素调节并介导对卵巢和子宫功能重要的关键生殖事件。在这篇综述中，我们重点介绍了表达 Notch 受体、配体和下游效应子的组织，并区分了这些分子如何调节雄性和雌性小鼠、非人类灵长类动物和人类的生殖功能。最后，