title: Islet organogenesis, angiogenesis and innervation.
abstract: The pancreas is characterized by a major component, an exocrine and ductal system involved in digestion, and a minor component, the endocrine islets represented by islet micro-organs that tightly regulate glucose homoeostasis. Pancreatic organogenesis is strictly co-ordinated by transcription factors that are expressed sequentially to yield functional islets capable of maintaining glucose homoeostasis. Angiogenesis and innervation complete islet development, equipping islets to respond to metabolic demands. Proper regulation of this triad of processes during development is critical for establishing functional islets.
authors: Diabetes Discovery Platform, South African Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg, 7505 Cape Town, South Africa. marlon.cerf@mrc.ac.za
authors: Marlon E
authors: ME
authors: Cerf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D038081:Organogenesis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors