title: Bmp7 expression and null phenotype in the urogenital system suggest a role in re-organization of the urethral epithelium.
abstract: Signaling by Bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps) has multiple and diverse roles in patterning and morphogenesis of the kidney, eye, limbs and the neural tube. Here, we employed the Bmp7(lacZ) strain to perform a detailed analysis of Bmp7 expression and the null phenotype during development of the mouse urogenital system. The urethral compartment originates in mid-embryogenesis from the ventral part of the cloaca, a transient cavity at the caudal end of the hindgut. At mid-gestation, Bmp7 expression was detected within several specific domains in the cloacal epithelium and mesenchyme. In late embryogenesis, Bmp7 expression was present in the urethra, rectum, the urethral glands, corpus cavernosum, and in the male and female genital ducts. Importantly, loss of Bmp7 resulted in arrest in cloacal septation, and severe defects in morphogenesis of the genital urethra and mesenchyme. Together, our analysis of Bmp7 expression and the null phenotype, indicates that Bmp7 may play an important role in re-organization of the epithelium during cloacal septation and morphogenesis of the genital tubercle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, 423 East 23rd Street 18064-South, New York, NY 10010, USA.
authors.forename: Xinyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grishina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D002988:Cloaca / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005838:Genotype; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D013997:Time Factors; D014521:Urethra / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; C525820:bmp7 protein, mouse