Apoptosis of mesenchymal cells during the pseudoglandular stage of lung development affects branching morphogenesis.
Apoptosis has been implicated as an important process in the development of several organ systems, including limbs, kidneys, and the heart. In developing murine lungs, the authors found that apoptosis was more predominant during the pseudoglandular stage of lung development than during the saccular stage, with 93% of the apoptotic structures in the mesenchyme. Murine lung explants cultured in the presence of zinc chloride and aurintricarboxylic acid, 2 blockers of endonuclease function, showed decreased branching. These observations suggest that apoptosis predominates in mesenchymal cells during the pseudoglandular stage of lung development, and may be important for normal progression of lung branching morphogenesis.
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Cherry
C
Wongtrakool
Jesse
J
Roman
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001312:Aurintricarboxylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
D002712:Chlorides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D001312:Aurintricarboxylic Acid; C016837:zinc chloride; D004247:DNA; D004720:Endonucleases