title: An illustrated anatomical ontology of the developing mouse lower urogenital tract.
abstract: Malformation of the urogenital tract represents a considerable paediatric burden, with many defects affecting the lower urinary tract (LUT), genital tubercle and associated structures. Understanding the molecular basis of such defects frequently draws on murine models. However, human anatomical terms do not always superimpose on the mouse, and the lack of accurate and standardised nomenclature is hampering the utility of such animal models. We previously developed an anatomical ontology for the murine urogenital system. Here, we present a comprehensive update of this ontology pertaining to mouse LUT, genital tubercle and associated reproductive structures (E10.5 to adult). Ontology changes were based on recently published insights into the cellular and gross anatomy of these structures, and on new analyses of epithelial cell types present in the pelvic urethra and regions of the bladder. Ontology changes include new structures, tissue layers and cell types within the LUT, external genitalia and lower reproductive structures. Representative illustrations, detailed text descriptions and molecular markers that selectively label muscle, nerves/ganglia and epithelia of the lower urogenital system are also presented. The revised ontology will be an important tool for researchers studying urogenital development/malformation in mouse models and will improve our capacity to appropriately interpret these with respect to the human situation.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Georgas
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Janet R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Keast
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Christine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Larkins
authors.affiliation: Centre for Molecular and Human Genetics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Division of Anatomy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205/10, USA.
authors.forename: Kirk M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: E Michelle
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Southard-Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA Department of Biology, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, Department of Urology, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Ekatherina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Batourina
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, Department of Urology, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Hanbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, Department of Urology, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Buehler
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Carrie B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.
authors.forename: Jamie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
authors.forename: Simon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.affiliation: MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Baldock
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia melissa.little@mcri.edu.au.
authors.forename: Melissa H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Little
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Chad M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Vezina
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, Department of Urology, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mendelsohn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D014521:Urethra / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology*
keywords: Bladder; External genitalia; Genital tubercle; Lower reproductive tract; Lower urinary tract; Mouse embryogenesis; Murine urogenital system development; Pelvic ganglion; Pelvic urethra; Phallic urethra; Prostate gland; Trigone; Ureter; Urethra; Urethral plate; Urogenital sinus