title: The contribution of specific cell subpopulations to submandibular salivary gland branching morphogenesis.
abstract: Branching morphogenesis is the developmental program responsible for generating a large surface to volume ratio in many secretory and absorptive organs. To accomplish branching morphogenesis, spatiotemporal regulation of specific cell subpopulations is required. Here, we review recent studies that define the contributions of distinct cell subpopulations to specific cellular processes during branching morphogenesis in the mammalian submandibular salivary gland, including the initiation of the gland, the coordination of cleft formation, and the contribution of stem/progenitor cells to morphogenesis. In conclusion, we provide an overview of technological advances that have opened opportunities to further probe the contributions of specific cell subpopulations and to define the integration of events required for branching morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental, and Neural Biology, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, NY, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Hae Ryong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, NY, USA. Electronic address: mlarsen@albany.edu.
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Larsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015509:Developmental Biology / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D008322:Mammals / Q000196:embryology*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*