CHAPTER 9 Branching Morphogenesis, edited by Jamie Davies. ©2004 Eurekah.com. Embryonic Salivary Gland Branching

Salivary submandibular gland (SMG) morphogenesis is regulated by the functionalintegration of stage-specific growth factor-, cytokine- and transcription factor-mediatedsignaling which mediates specific patterns of cell proliferation, cell quiescence, apoptosis, and histodifferentiation. We describe the stage-specific distribution of protein components of key signaling pathways during embryonic SMG development and correlate their protein ex-pression patterns with cell proliferation and apoptosis. We then review the critical role of the Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), Hedgehog (Hh) and Ectodysplasin (Eda) signaling pathways and discuss how they may interact within the context of a nonlinear genetic network