title: Stimulatory and inhibitory signaling molecules that regulate renal branching morphogenesis.
abstract: Branching morphogenesis, defined as the growth and branching of epithelial tubules, is a fundamental developmental process involved in the formation of a variety of mammalian tissues, including the kidney. Defective renal branching may result in a number of clinically relevant abnormalities, including renal agenesis, renal dysplasia, multiplex kidneys, and hypertension. In this review we describe the morphological events that generate the characteristic tree-like structure of the mammalian collecting system. We also highlight new knowledge related to both established and novel signaling systems that are important for stimulating and inhibiting branching morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bridgewater
authors.forename: Norman D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007685:Kidney Tubules, Collecting / Q000196:embryology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D023421:Models, Animal; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051153:Wnt Proteins