Wells Kirsty L, Patel Nisha
Front Oral Biol. 2010;14:78-89. doi: 10.1159/000313708. Epub 2010 Apr 20.
During salivary gland morphogenesis, the developing ducts and acini must hollow out to form lumina which will eventually allow the free passage and modification of saliva on its journey from acini to oral cavity. The molecular mechanisms that participate in the creation of this tubular structure are of great research interest. Histological studies show that lumen formation begins during the mid stages of branching morphogenesis. At this stage, apoptotic cells are detectable in the developing salivary ducts at sites where lumina are forming, suggesting that programmed cell death is instrumental in clearing the luminal space. The formation of cell-cell junctions between the epithelial cells lining the space is also an integral part of lumen formation, since these junctions form a barrier around the lumen and allow the surfaces of the lumen-lining cells to become specialized. This chapter will discuss the mechanisms involved in salivary gland lumen formation during development, and draw on the most recent research in this interesting field.
在唾液腺形态发生过程中，发育中的导管和腺泡必须中空形成管腔，最终使唾液在从腺泡到口腔的过程中能够自由通过并发生改变。参与形成这种管状结构的分子机制具有极大的研究价值。组织学研究表明，管腔形成始于分支形态发生的中期。在此阶段，在管腔形成部位的发育中的唾液导管中可检测到凋亡细胞，这表明程序性细胞死亡有助于清除管腔空间。围绕该空间排列的上皮细胞之间形成细胞间连接也是管腔形成的一个组成部分，因为这些连接在管腔周围形成屏障，并使管腔衬里细胞的表面能够特化。本章将讨论发育过程中唾液腺管腔形成所涉及的机制，并借鉴该有趣领域的最新研究成果。
