Mechanism of primitive duct formation in the pancreas and submandibular glands: a role for SDF-1.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The exocrine pancreas is composed of a branched network of ducts connected to acini. They are lined by a monolayered epithelium that derives from the endoderm and is surrounded by mesoderm-derived mesenchyme. The morphogenic mechanisms by which the ductal network is established as well as the signaling pathways involved in this process are poorly understood.

Results

By morphological analyzis of wild-type and mutant mouse embryos and using cultured embryonic explants we investigated how epithelial morphogenesis takes place and is regulated by chemokine signaling. Pancreas ontogenesis displayed a sequence of two opposite epithelial transitions. During the first transition, the monolayered and polarized endodermal cells give rise to tissue buds composed of a mass of

SUBMITTER: Hick AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2801489 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature