Size control during organogenesis: Development of the lateral line organs in zebrafish

Many genes that play essential roles in organ growth have been identified across a range of organisms. However, the mechanisms by which growing organs can sense their sizes and stop growing when they reach their proper sizes remain poorly understood. The mechanosensory organs of the fish lateral line system (neuromasts) provide an ideal system to address this question for the following reasons. First, each superficial neuromast is composed of a small number of cells situated on the body surface, making it relatively easy to quantify organ size throughout development. Second, while the sensory cells of superficial neuromasts are continuously renewed, overall organ size is homeostatically maintained. Third, there is another type of neuromast showing an opposite mode of growth: that is, canal neuromasts increase in size in proportion to organism body size. Here, we review recent findings regarding the mechanisms that control organ size in the zebrafish lateral line.