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Defective development of the gall bladder and cystic duct in Lgr4 ‐ hypomorphic mice
Author(s) -
Yamashita Ryo,
Takegawa Yumiko,
Sakumoto Machiko,
Nakahara Mai,
Kawazu Haruna,
Hoshii Takayuki,
Araki Kimi,
Yokouchi Yuji,
Yamamura KenIchi
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.21900
Subject(s) - biology , gall , mesenchyme , cystic duct , medicine , endocrinology , embryo , anatomy , gallbladder , microbiology and biotechnology , botany
Leucine‐rich repeat (LRR) ‐containing G protein coupled receptor (LGR) family members are characterized by the presence of a seven‐transmembrane domain and LRR motifs. We describe a new function for Lgr4 in the development of the gall bladder and cystic duct and in the epithelium–mesenchyme interaction. Lgr4 expression was observed in the gall bladder epithelium when the gall bladder primordium elongated ventrally. Although Lgr4 hypomorphic mutant ( Lgr4 Gt / Gt ) embryos developed a normal gall bladder bud at embryonic day (E) 10.25, no further elongation was observed at later stages. At E12.5, the mesenchyme surrounding the gall bladder had completely disappeared in Lgr4 Gt / Gt embryos, while the gall bladder remained unelongated. Neighboring tissues such as liver and pancreas were unaffected, as revealed by expression of marker genes. This is the first report of a mutant mouse that lacks a gall bladder and cystic duct without affecting the other tissues that derive from the same hepatic diverticulum. Developmental Dynamics 238:993–1000, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.