Overexpression of the Del1 gene causes dendritic branching in the mouse mesentery

In the present study, we established transgenic mice overexpressing Del1 , a ligand of integrins, to examine the effect of overexpression of Del1 on vascular morphogenesis. In the wild‐type mouse, mesenteric vessels are shaped like rakes consisting of a long stalk and short branches at the periphery. In contrast, those in transgenic mice showed typical dendritic architecture consisting of a few large primary branches with smaller spreading branches. The phenotype of mice overexpressing Del1 suggests the existence of a tissue‐specific mechanism for branching morphogenesis in the mesentery. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.