The BMP family member Gdf7 is required for seminal vesicle growth, branching morphogenesis, and cytodifferentiation.
Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions play an important role in the development of many different organs and tissues. The secretory glands of the male reproductive system, including the prostate and seminal vesicles, are derived from epithelial precursors. Signals from the underlying mesenchyme are required for normal growth, branching, and differentiation of the seminal vesicle epithelium. Here, we show that a member of the BMP family, Gdf7, is required for normal seminal vesicle development. Expression and tissue recombination experiments suggest that Gdf7 is a mesenchymal signal that acts in a paracrine fashion to control the differentiation of the seminal vesicle epithelium.
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Department of Developmental Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Beckman Center B300, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5427, USA.
Marker
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Gurley
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Sinha
A
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Thacker
A
A
Wang
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Higgins
K
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Cunha
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Kingsley
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D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D004848:Epithelium; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000637:transplantation; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009024:Morphogenesis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051381:Rats; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; C499471:Gdf7 protein, mouse; C499472:Gdf7 protein, rat; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors; D006133:Growth Substances; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; C086559:growth differentiation factor 7; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I