A Comparative Study of the Turnover of Multiciliated Cells in the Mouse Trachea, Oviduct and Brain

In mammals, multiciliated cells (MCCs) line the lumen of the trachea, oviduct, and brain ventricles, where they drive fluid flow across the epithelium. Each MCC population experiences vastly different local environments that may dictate differences in their lifetime and turnover rates. However, with the exception of MCCs in the trachea, the turnover rates of these multiciliated epithelial populations at extended time scales are not well described. Here, using genetic lineage-labeling techniques we provide a direct comparison of turnover rates of MCCs in these three different tissues. We find that oviduct turnover is similar to that in the airway (∼6 months), while multiciliated ependymal cells turnover more slowly.