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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
08:06
Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney
Published on: April 22, 2011
Branching morphogenesis in the developing kidney is governed by rules that pattern the ureteric tree.
James G Lefevre1, Kieran M Short2,3, Timothy O Lamberton1
1Division of Genomics and Development of Disease, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|October 18, 2017
Summary
Kidney development involves iterative ureteric bud branching. This study reveals a conserved, asymmetric branching pattern governed by local growth mechanisms, crucial for normal kidney formation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Organogenesis
- Urology
Background:
- Metanephric kidney development relies on ureteric bud branching morphogenesis.
- Understanding the precise patterning of this branching is key to comprehending kidney formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the underlying spatial patterning of ureteric bud ramification.
- To investigate the mechanisms governing this branching pattern and its conservation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of ureteric bud branching patterns in developing kidneys.
- Development of tip-state models to simulate branching morphogenesis.
- Spatial analysis and investigation of mouse mutants with altered tip distribution.
Main Results:
- A conserved, highly reproducible asymmetric branching pattern was identified in the ureteric tree.
- A 'half-delay' branching model accurately describes the observed patterning.
- Mutual suppression between growing ureteric tips appears to drive asymmetry, with disruption observed in specific mouse mutants.
Conclusions:
- Kidney development follows a conserved, reiterative pattern of asymmetric bifurcation.
- This patterning is controlled by intrinsic and locally operative mechanisms.
- The findings provide insights into the fundamental principles of branching morphogenesis in organ development.
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