Role of alpha 6 integrin subunit in branching morphogenesis of fetal mouse submandibular gland: investigation by mesenchyme-free epithelial culture system.
The submandibular gland (SMG) of the fetal mouse is a well-studied model for the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions required for branching morphogenesis (BrM), which involves cleft formation and stalk elongation. In a previous report, we showed that alpha 6 integrin subunit is involved in BrM of this gland rudiment, since the neutralizing antibody against alpha 6 integrin subunit, GoH3, strongly inhibited branching of cultured intact E13 SMG. In this study, we investigated whether GoH3 inhibits cleft formation and/or stalk elongation during BrM of cultured mesenchyme-free epithelial rudiments of fetal SMG and also analyzed by Western blotting the levels of phosphorylation of ERK1/2, which is a signaling molecule known to regulate BrM of the fetal mouse SMG.
Department of Pharmacology, Asahi University School of Dentistry, Mizuho, Japan.
Noriko
N
Koyama
Toru
T
Hayashi
Edward W
EW
Gresik
Masanori
M
Kashimata
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D039503:Integrin alpha6 / Q000502:physiology*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*
D039503:Integrin alpha6