Embryonic Lung Branching Morphogenesis Research Articles

MiR-221 activates the NF-κB pathway by targeting A20.

MicroRNAs play an important role in regulating the inflammatory response, and are critically involved in the development of inflammatory disorders, including those affecting the lungs. While the microRNA miR-221 is involved in embryonic lung branching morphogenesis and epithelial cell development, its importance in lung inflammation has not been previously explored. In our current study, expression of miR-221 was selectively decreased by exposure to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) both in vitro and in vivo. Enforced expression of miR-221 significantly increased the production of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, and enhanced the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs upon LPS stimulation. Accordingly, intratracheal stimulation of miR-221 was shown to aggravate endotoxin-induced acute lung injuries and inflammation in mice. Mechanistic studies showed that miR-221 directly targets A20, a master regulator of NF-κB and MAPK signaling, and thus represses inflammatory signaling. Restoration of A20 in macrophages abolished the stimulatory effect of miR-221 on production of proinflammatory cytokines. Together, these results indicate the presence of a novel miRNA-mediated feed-back mechanism that controls inflammation, and suggest involvement of aberrant miR-221 expression in the development of inflammatory lung disorders.

Suppression of embryonic lung branching morphogenesis by antisense oligonucleotides against HOM/C homeobox factors

The role of HOM/C homeobox genes on rat embryonic lung branching morphogenesis was investigated using the lung bud explant culture system in an air/liquid interface. Knock down of homeobox b3 and b4 expression by antisense oligonucleotide treatment repressed airway branch formation, while antisense oligonucleotide against homeobox a3 showed no effect. Addition of antisense Hoxb3 oligonucleotide resulted in upregulation of collagen type III mRNA and fibroblast growth factor 10 mRNA, while that of the T-box regulatory factor-4 was decreased. Consequently, expression of Clara cell-specific secretory protein was decreased. These results suggest a critical role for homeobox b3 and b4 genes in lung airway branching morphogenesis.

Sprouty2 downregulation plays a pivotal role in mediating crosstalk between TGF‐β1 signaling and EGF as well as FGF receptor tyrosine kinase‐ERK pathways in mesenchymal cells

Mammalian Sprouty2 (Spry2) is a key regulator of the receptor tyrosine kinase/ERK signaling pathway and is involved in many biological processes, including cell growth, differentiation, migration, and embryonic lung branching morphogenesis. Previous studies have shown that Spry2 expression is upregulated by many mitogens, particularly epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). In contrast, we report that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), which stimulates the growth of quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells, induced a dose dependent decrease of mouse Spry2 protein level within 24-h of treatment, and this effect was mediated by a MAP kinase-independent pathway. A concomitant reduction of the level of Spry2 mRNA indicates the involvement of a transcriptional mechanism, which requires histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and de novo protein synthesis. On the other hand, the turnover rate of Spry2 protein was increased by TGF-beta1 treatment, suggesting enhanced Spry2 degradation. Treatment with lysosomal inhibitors, but not proteasome inhibitors, prevented the degradation of Spry2, thus, indicating that the degradation of Spry2 is mediated through the lysosomal pathway in Swiss 3T3 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that TGF-beta1 signaling can modulate EGF and FGF-induced ERK-MAP kinase activation by controlling Spry2 expression and function. Moreover, rescue of the TGF-beta1-induced downregulation of Spry2 by gene over-expression led to inhibition of the mitogenic effect of TGF-beta1 in Swiss 3T3 cells. Together, the combined operation of transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms suggests that regulation of Spry2 is a crucial event and emphasizes the important role that Spry2 plays in controlling cell behaviors.

VEGF-A signaling through Flk-1 is a critical facilitator of early embryonic lung epithelial to endothelial crosstalk and branching morphogenesis

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) signaling directs both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. However, the role of VEGF-A ligand signaling in the regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal interactions during early mouse lung morphogenesis remains incompletely characterized. Fetal liver kinase-1 (Flk-1) is a VEGF cognate receptor (VEGF-R2) expressed in the embryonic lung mesenchyme. VEGF-A, expressed in the epithelium, is a high affinity ligand for Flk-1. We have used both gain and loss of function approaches to investigate the role of this VEGF-A signaling pathway during lung morphogenesis. Herein, we demonstrate that exogenous VEGF 164, one of the 3 isoforms generated by alternative splicing of the Vegf-A gene, stimulates mouse embryonic lung branching morphogenesis in culture and increases the index of proliferation in both epithelium and mesenchyme. In addition, it induces differential gene and protein expression among several key lung morphogenetic genes, including up-regulation of BMP-4 and Sp-c expression as well as an increase in Flk-1-positive mesenchymal cells. Conversely, embryonic lung culture with an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to the Flk-1 receptor led to reduced epithelial branching, decreased epithelial and mesenchymal proliferation index as well as downregulating BMP-4 expression. These results demonstrate that the VEGF pathway is involved in driving epithelial to endothelial crosstalk in embryonic mouse lung morphogenesis.

A novel function for the protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 during lung branching morphogenesis

Branching morphogenesis of many organs, including the embryonic lung, is a dynamic process in which growth factor mediated tyrosine kinase receptor activation is required, but must be tightly regulated to direct ramifications of the terminal branches. However, the specific regulators that modulate growth factor signaling downstream of the tyrosine kinase receptor remain to be determined. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time an important function for the intracellular protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 in directing embryonic lung epithelial morphogenesis. We show that Shp2 is specifically expressed in embryonic lung epithelial buds, and that loss of function by the suppression of Shp2 mRNA expression results in a 53% reduction in branching morphogenesis. Furthermore, by intra-tracheal microinjection of a catalytically inactive adenoviral Shp2 construct, we provide direct evidence that the catalytic activity of Shp2 is required for proper embryonic lung branch formation. We demonstrate that Shp2 activity is required for FGF10 induced endodermal budding. Furthermore, a loss of Shp2 catalytic activity in the embryonic lung was associated with a reduction in ERK phosphorylation and epithelial cell proliferation. However, epithelial cell differentiation was not affected. Our results show that the protein tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 plays an essential role in modulating growth factor mediated tyrosine kinase receptor activation in early embryonic lung branching morphogenesis.

Smad1 expression and function during mouse embryonic lung branching morphogenesis

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4 plays very important roles in regulating developmental processes of many organs, including lung. Smad1 is one of the BMP receptor downstream signaling proteins that transduce BMP4 ligand signaling from cell surface to nucleus. The dynamic expression patterns of Smad1 in embryonic mouse lungs were examined using immunohistochemistry. Smad1 protein was predominantly detected in peripheral airway epithelial cells of early embryonic lung tissue [embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5)], whereas Smad1 protein expression in mesenchymal cells increased during mid-late gestation. Many Smad1-positive mesenchymal cells were localized adjacent to large airway epithelial cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels, which colocalized with a molecular marker of smooth muscle cells (alpha-smooth muscle actin). The biological function of Smad1 in early lung branching morphogenesis was then studied in our established E11.5 lung explant culture model. Reduction of endogenous Smad1 expression was achieved by adding a Smad1-specific antisense DNA oligonucleotide, causing approximately 20% reduction of lung epithelial branching. Furthermore, airway epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation were also inhibited when endogenous Smad1 expression was knocked down. Therefore, these data indicate that Smad1, acting as an intracellular BMP signaling pathway component, positively regulates early mouse embryonic lung branching morphogenesis.

Overexpression of Smurf1 negatively regulates mouse embryonic lung branching morphogenesis by specifically reducing Smad1 and Smad5 proteins.

Early embryonic lung branching morphogenesis is regulated by many growth factor-mediated pathways. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is one of the morphogens that stimulate epithelial branching in mouse embryonic lung explant culture. To further understand the molecular mechanisms of BMP4-regulated lung development, we studied the biological role of Smad-ubiquitin regulatory factor 1 (Smurf1), an ubiquitin ligase specific for BMP receptor-regulated Smads, during mouse lung development. The temporo-spatial expression pattern of Smurf1 in mouse embryonic lung was first determined by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Overexpression of Smurf1 in airway epithelial cells by intratracheal introduction of recombinant adenoviral vector dramatically inhibited embryonic day (E) 11.5 lung explant growth in vitro. This inhibition of lung epithelial branching was restored by coexpression of Smad1 or by addition of soluble BMP4 ligand into the culture medium. Studies at the cellular level show that overexpression of Smurf1 reduced epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, as documented by reduced PCNA-positive cell index and by reduced mRNA levels for surfactant protein C and Clara cell protein 10 expression. Further studies found that overexpression of Smurf1 reduced BMP-specific Smad1 and Smad5, but not Smad8, protein levels. Thus overexpression of Smurf1 specifically promotes Smad1 and Smad5 ubiquitination and degradation in embryonic lung epithelium, thereby modulating the effects of BMP4 on embryonic lung growth.

Control of Embryonic Lung Branching Morphogenesis by the Rho Activator, Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1

Background. Lung development is sensitive to physiological stresses, and its development may be impaired by physical distortion, as in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Yet, little is known about how mechanical forces can influence lung morphogenesis. Studies with cultured cells suggest that cytoskeletal tension may play a key role in growth control. Since the small GTPase Rho plays an important role in the control of cell tension generation, we carried out studies to test the hypothesis that changes in Rho-mediated cell tension may influence branching morphogenesis. Methods. Embryonic lung buds from timed pregnant Swiss Webster mice were microdissected on Embryonic Day 12 (E12), and whole organs were cultured in serum-free medium in the presence of the Rho activator cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF-1) for 48 h. Serial measurements of the degree of epithelial branch formation and tissue maturation were performed using light microscopy and computerized image analysis. Results. At 48 h, embryonic lungs treated with 2 ng/ml CNF-1 increased their terminal bud count by 236 ± 18% ( P = 0.01) compared with 132 ± 2% for untreated controls. However, dose–response experiments revealed biphasic behavior: at a higher dose of CNF-1 (200 ng/ml), bud number was actually decreased relative to controls (43 ± 1%, P < 0.001). Histological analysis revealed that individual glands appeared to be more highly developed at low-dose CNF-1, whereas the high dose produced gland contraction. Conclusions. These data support a potential role for Rho and cytoskeletal tension in control of epithelial pattern formation during lung development.

Diverse gene expression and function of semaphorins in developing lung: positive and negative regulatory roles of semaphorins in lung branching morphogenesis.

Previously, we reported that Sema3A, one of the secreted repulsive axon guidance molecules, CRMP (collapsin response mediator protein)-2, a putative intracellular signalling molecule for Sema3A and Sema3A receptor neuropilin-1 are expressed in the developing lung. Sema3A inhibits branching morphogenesis of embryonic lung in organ culture. We examined the gene expression of Sema3A, Sema3C, Sema3F and their receptors, NP-1, NP-2 and plexin-A1 by in situ hybridization. Transcripts of all six genes were detected in mouse lung from embryonic day E11.5 to E17.5, and displayed highly specific spatiotemporal distributions. The distribution of the receptor genes was detected in patterns which were consistent with known receptor usage of the semaphorins. In contrast to Sema3A, we found that the other class 3 semaphorins, Sema3C and Sema3F, stimulated branching morphogenesis. This stimulatory effect of Sema3C or Sema3F was accompanied by a moderate increase in the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) into DNA in the terminal epithelial cells. The coordinated expression patterns of different semaphorins and their receptors, together with the specific activities affecting branching morphogenesis, suggest that the semaphorins act as both positive and negative regulators of branching morphogenesis in the developing lung.

Pulmonary Hypoplasia in Mice Lacking Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Converting Enzyme Indicates an Indispensable Role for Cell Surface Protein Shedding during Embryonic Lung Branching Morphogenesis

Many membrane-bound protein precursors, including cytokines and growth factors, are proteolytically shed to yield soluble intercellular regulatory ligands. The responsible protease, tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM-17), is a transmembrane metalloprotease-disintegrin that cleaves multiple cell surface proteins, although it was initially identified for the enzymatic release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Mammalian lung growth and development are tightly controlled by cytokines and peptide growth factors. However, the biological function of the cell shedding mechanism during lung organogenesis is not understood. We therefore evaluated the role of TACE as a “sheddase” during lung morphogenesis by analyzing the developmental phenotypes of lungs in mice with an inactive TACE gene in both in vivo and ex vivo organ explant culture. Neonatal TACE-deficient mice had visible respiratory distress and their lungs failed to form normal saccular structures. These newborn mutant lungs had fewer peripheral epithelial sacs with deficient septation and thick-walled mesenchyme, resulting in reduced surface for gas exchange. At the canalicular stage of E16.5, the lungs of TACE mutant mice were impaired in branching morphogenesis, inhibited in epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, and delayed in vasculogenesis. Embryonic TACE knockout mouse lungs (E12) branched poorly compared to wild-type lungs, when placed into serumless organ culture. Gene expression of both surfactant protein-C and aquaporin-5 were inhibited in cultured TACE-mutant embryonic lungs, indicating defects in both branching and peripheral epithelial cytodifferentiation in the absence of TACE protein. Furthermore, both the hypoplastic phenotype and the delayed cytodifferentiation in TACE-deficient lungs were rescued by exogenous addition of soluble stimulatory factors including either TNF-α or epidermal growth factor in embryonic lung culture. Thus, the impaired lung branching and maturation without TACE suggest a broad role for TACE in the processing of multiple membrane-anchored proteins, one or more of which is essential for normal lung morphogenesis. Taken together, our data indicate that the TACE-mediated proteolytic mechanism which enzymatically releases membrane-tethered proteins plays an indispensable role in lung morphogenesis, and its inactivation leads to abnormal lung development.

Smad7 is a TGF-β-inducible attenuator of Smad2/3-mediated inhibition of embryonic lung morphogenesis

Smad7 was recently shown to antagonize TGF-β-induced activation of signal-transducing Smad2 and Smad3 proteins. However, the biological function of Smad7 in the process of lung organogenesis is not known. Since Smad2/3-mediated TGF-β signaling is known to inhibit embryonic lung branching morphogenesis, we tested the hypothesis that Smad7 regulates early lung development by modulating TGF-β signal transduction. An antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) was designed to specifically block endogenous Smad7 gene expression at both transcriptional and translational levels in embryonic mouse lungs in culture. TGF-β-mediated inhibition of lung branching morphogenesis was significantly potentiated in cultured embryonic lungs in the absence of Smad7 gene expression: abrogation of Smad7 potentiated TGF-β-mediated inhibition of lung branching morphogenesis from 76 to 52% of the basal level in lungs cultured in the presence of 5 ng/ml TGF-β1 ligand. Likewise, TGF-β1 EC50 (concentration of TGF-β1 that induced half maximal branching inhibition) was reduced from 5 to 1 ng/ml when Smad7 gene expression was abrogated in lung culture, indicating an enhanced level of TGF-β signaling in lung tissue with abolished Smad7 gene expression. By immunocytochemistry, Smad7 protein was co-localized with both Smad2 and Smad3 in distal bronchial epithelial cells, supporting the concept that Smad7 inhibits TGF-β signaling by competing locally with Smad2 and Smad3 for TGF-β receptor complex binding during lung morphogenesis. Furthermore, antisense Smad7 ODN increased the negative effect of TGF-β1 on epithelial cell growth in developing lungs in culture. We also demonstrated that Smad7 mRNA levels were rapidly and potently induced upon TGF-β1 stimulation of lungs in culture, suggesting that Smad7 regulates TGF-β responses in a negative feedback loop. These studies define a novel function for Smad7 as an intracellular antagonist of TGF-β-induced, Smad2/3-mediated inhibition of murine embryonic lung growth and branching morphogenesis in culture. The optimization of TGF-β signaling during early lung development therefore requires a finely-regulated competitive balance between both permissive and inhibitory members of the Smad family.

Spatial-specific TGF-β1 adenoviral expression determines morphogenetic phenotypes in embryonic mouse lung

The precise spatial-temporal role that expression and activation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β plays in mammalian organ morphogenesis remains incompletely understood. Using replication deficient adenoviral vectors containing engineered TGF-β1 cDNAs, we studied the spatial effects of locally over-expressing either latent or mutated, constitutively active TGF-β1 protein during embryonic mouse lung branching morphogenesis in culture. Transfer of exogenous genes into lung epithelium was achieved by intra-tracheal microinjection of recombinant adenovirus, while submerging lungs in virus resulted in gene transfer into the pleura and subjacent mesenchymal cells, as revealed by cytochemical staining for β-galactosidase. Only lungs transfected with active, but not latent TGF-β1 gene, showed elevated levels of active TGF-β. Epithelial over-expression of active, but not latent TGF-β1, via intra-tracheal micro-injection inhibited lung branching morphogenesis by 36%. In contrast, lungs submerged with either active or latent TGF-β1 recombinant virus did not demonstrate an inhibitory effect upon branching. Pulmonary gene regulation was assayed by competitive polymerase chain reaction coupled with reverse transcription. Direct respiratory tract micro-injection of adenovirus over-expressing active TGF-β1 resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of epithelial surfactant protein (SP)-C and SP-B mRNA levels by up to 76% and 70%, respectively, while in contrast, fibronectin and matrix Gla protein (MGP) mRNA levels remained stable. However, lungs that had been submerged in adenovirus expressing active TGF-β1 demonstrated a concentration-dependent induction of both fibronectin and MGP mRNA levels up to 4.3- and 4.7-fold respectively in the presence of 1 X 10 11 pfu/ml active TGF-β1 virus. On the other hand, lungs treated with adenovirus expressing latent TGF-β1 either by micro-injection or submerging failed to demonstrate any regulatory effect either upon epithelial or mesenchymal gene expression. We conclude that adenovector-mediated overexpression of activated TGF-β1 in specific spatial compartments results respectively in either inhibition of branching morphogenesis and epithelium-specific gene expression, or in induction of matrix gene expression without affecting morphogenesis or epithelium-specific gene expression, depending on the route of administration. Also, the lack of effect of latent TGF-β1 over-expression strongly suggests that TGF-β activation per se provides an important locus of fine regulation ofthe spatial effects of TGF-β signaling during embryonic lung branching morphogenesis.

Epithelium-specific adenoviral transfer of a dominant-negative mutant TGF- β type II receptor stimulates embryonic lung branching morphogenesis in culture and potentiates EGF and PDGF-AA

Although exogenous transforming growth factor- β (TGF- β) is known to inhibit branching morphogenesis in mouse embryonic lungs in culture, whether the principal negative function of endogenous TGF- β signaling resides in lung epithelium or mesenchyme remains unresolved. A recombinant adenovirus was constructed, containing a mutated human TGF- β type II receptor with a truncated cytoplasmic kinase domain. We examined whether this dominant-negative receptor could abolish epithelium-specific endogenous TGF- β signaling. We introduced the recombinant adenovirus into lung explants via intra-tracheal micro-injection. This resulted in over-expression of exogenous truncated TGF- β type II receptor only in airway epithelium, not in mesenchyme, as assessed by mRNA level and protein localization. Blockade of endogenous TGF- β receptor signaling in epithelial endoderm by the mutated dominant-negative TGF- β type II receptor resulted in significant (65%) stimulation of epithelial branching morphogenesis, while exogenous TGF- β no longer downregulated epithelial PCNA immunoreactivity and surfactant protein C (SP-C) expression. Additionally, the mitogenic responses to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor, PDGF–AA were potentiated by 33 and 31%, respectively. We conclude that epithelium-specific adenovirus-mediated over-expression of a dominant-negative TGF- β type II receptor completely and specifically abolished the anti-proliferative effects of both endogenous and exogenous TGF- β. Therefore, epithelium-specific TGF- β signaling is sufficient to negatively regulate embryonic lung-branching morphogenesis in culture. We speculate that abrogation of TGF- β signaling stimulates lung morphogenesis by potentiating the inductive and permissive effects of other endogenous peptide growth factors such as EGF and PDGF-AA.

Abrogation of Smad3 and Smad2 or of Smad4 Gene Expression Positively Regulates Murine Embryonic Lung Branching Morphogenesis in Culture

Smad genes are recently identified intracellular effectors for receptor signaling in the BMP/activin/TGF-β pathway. Since TGF-β ligands are known to inhibit embryonic lung branching morphogenesis, we tested the hypothesis that Smad genes negatively regulate lung organogenesis. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides were designed to attenuate Smad3 and Smad2 gene expression in embryonic (E11) mouse lungs over 4 days in culture. Endogenous Smad3 and Smad2 mRNA levels were suppressed by 97 and 91%, respectively, in cultured embryonic lungs when antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (40 μM) to Smad was added, compared to scrambled and sense sequence controls. The corresponding Smad3 and Smad2 protein amounts were also decreased respectively by 86 and 90% in lungs treated with Smad3 and Smad2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. Phenotypically, Smad antisense oligodeoxynucleotides resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in lung branching: embryonic lung branching was stimulated by up to 53% in culture with 40 μM antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, whereas both scrambled and sense controls showed no stimulatory effect. Thus, inhibition of endogenous Smad3 and Smad2 gene expression resulted in stimulation of embryonic lung branching similar to that caused by inhibition of TGF-β type II receptor expression and signaling (J. Zhaoet al.,1996,Dev. Biol.180, 242–257). Abrogation of Smad4 (DPC4), the downstream mediator of Smad3 and Smad2 proteins, with antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, also resulted in increased branching morphogenesis. Furthermore, while TGF-β alone inhibited lung branching morphogenesis in culture, addition of exogenous TGF-β1 could not overcome the stimulatory effect on lung branching of Smad antisense oligodeoxynucleotide treatment. By immunohistochemistry, Smad proteins were localized mainly to the epithelial cells lining the branching distal airways, indicating that Smad genes could regulate lung morphogenesis through mesoderm–endoderm interaction. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that abrogation of Smad2 and Smad3 or of Smad4 gene expression stimulated early mouse embryonic lung branching morphogenesis in culture, possibly through reversing the negative influence of endogenous TGF-β signaling upon lung branching morphogenesis.

Syndecan, a cell surface proteoglycan, exhibits a molecular polymorphism during lung development

Syndecan, a cell surface proteoglycan, binds multiple extracellular ligands, and is developmentally regulated in epithelial and mesenchymal tissues. The branching morphogenesis of embryonic lung is dependent on epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and, based on studies with inhibitors, on proteoglycan synthesis. To assess the role of syndecan in lung development, we examined the structure and distribution of syndecan in Day 12 to 18 embryonic mouse lungs using monoclonal antibody 281-2 for histology, immunopurification, and Western blots. At Day 12, syndecan localizes mainly on epithelial cell surfaces, but also stains mesenchymal cells near the epithelium. By Day 14, syndecan is expressed predominantly on epithelia and by Day 18, syndecan remains on airway epithelia but is absent from the alveolar pneumocytes. This change in expression correlates with a change in syndecan structure; the relative mass of syndecan gradually falls from Day 12 to Day 18 without a change in relative mass of the core protein. The difference is due to a developmental reduction in the size of the glycosaminoglycan chains; heparan sulfate chains on syndecan from Day 14 lungs were nearly twofold larger than those from Day 18 lungs. Newly synthesized syndecan in the lungs had the same relative mass as total syndecan, indicating that the change in mass is due to a developmental change in the nature of the syndecan synthesized. The alteration in syndecan structure could alter the function of this proteoglycan during lung development.

Collagen involvement in branching morphogenesis of embryonic lung and salivary gland

The possibility that extracellular collagen is involved in branching morphogenesis of mouse embryo lung and salivary glands has been explored during in vitro organ culture. Control cultures of both rudiment types contain abundant collagen in extracellular spaces between mesenchymal cells and in the epithelial-mesenchymal interface. Branching morphogenesis of lungs and salivary glands is not perturbed by the presence of β-aminopropionitrile, implying that extracellular collagen cross-linking is not required, but is perturbed by α,α′-dipyridyl or l-azetidine-2-car☐ylic acid (LACA), agents reported to interfere with collagen synthesis and secretion. Analysis of the structural and biosynthetic effects of LACA revealed a severe inhibition of collagen synthesis, as monitored by hydroxyproline synthesis, and extracellular collagen accumulation. Cell and tissue integrity was not affected, but a slight inhibition of general protein synthesis, protein accumulation, and epithelial expansion was observed. The strong correlations between collagen biosynthesis, extracellular collagen presence, and branching morphogenesis are consistent with an integral role for collagen in embryonic lung and salivary gland morphogenesis.