Glucocorticoids, TGF-beta, and embryonic mouse salivary gland morphogenesis

Branching morphogenesis is a fundamental embryologic process in many developing organs: salivary gland, lung, pancreas, mammary gland, and kidney. Glucocorticoids (CORT) are known to regulate morphogenesis in several branching organs (e.g., lung); we hypothesize that CORT is also important to embryonic mouse salivary gland morphogenesis. We studied the CORT-glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signal transduction pathway during embryonic mouse submandibular gland development. Western analysis demonstrates that the 96-kDa GR is present in E14 to E18 submandibular glands. The embryonic GR is functional, as defined by its ability to bind a DNA CORT response element, for all gestational ages evaluated (E14 to E18); increasing GR levels are observed with progressive development. The level of endogenous corticosterone in embryonic submandibular glands was also determined. Using radioimmunoassays corticosterone is first detected on day 15 of gestation; there is a progressive increase in steroid levels from day 15 to 18 of gestation. In addition, we investigated the effect of exogenous CORT on submandibular gland morphogenesis in vivo and in vitro. In vivo experiments were performed using maternal injection of CORT or sham injection on day 12 of gestation with sacrifice 72 hr post-injection (E15). CORT treatment significantly increases embryonic submandibular gland growth in vivo. To further analyze the effect of exogenous CORT on embryonic submandibular gland morphogenesis, E13 mouse submandibular glands were cultured under serum-free, chemically-defined conditions. A significant (P < 0.05) enhancement of mean branching ratios (72 hr/0 hr) is detected in CORT-supplemented explants (10(-5) M to 10(-8) M) compared to control explants; doses more dilute than 10(-8) M CORT do not significantly (P > 0.10) increase the induction of branching. In addition, CORT administration to embryonic mice in utero enhances the expression of acinar-cell-specific mucin protein. These data indicate that the CORT-GR signal transduction pathway plays an important role in salivary gland morphogenesis. Northern analysis of TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 2, and TGF-beta 3 transcript levels in vivo confirms the presence of TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 and identifies TGF-beta 3 in embryonic submandibular glands. To begin to identify a molecular mechanism of CORT-GR mediated submandibular gland morphodifferentiation, we studied the effect of CORT on growth factor gene expression, specifically TGF-beta. Northern analysis suggests that the CORT-GR signal transduction pathway modulates the rate of morphogenesis by regulating TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 3 mRNA expression.