Premium
The biology of organ size determination
Author(s) -
Stanger B. Z.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
diabetes, obesity and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.445
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1463-1326
pISSN - 1462-8902
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2008.00938.x
Subject(s) - biology , regeneration (biology) , parenchyma , developmental biology , set point , microbiology and biotechnology , evolutionary biology , physiology , botany , control engineering , engineering
The mechanisms that control the size of cells, organs, and organisms have long interested biologists, and are also important in malignant progression. Despite this, basic features of in vivo growth control – the level at which regulation is exerted and the degree to which size is controlled autonomously – are poorly understood. Similarly, it is unknown whether adult tissues measure and respond to size cues in the same manner as those of embryos, a question that is relevant to tissue homeostasis and regeneration. This article will review the determinants of organ size during development and discuss the concept of a ‘size set‐point,’ which incorporates the mass of tissue parenchyma and scaffold established at the end of development.