The Embryonic Mouse Gut Tube as a Model for Analysis of Epithelial Polarity

Recent accumulating data indicate links between planer cell polarity (PCP) and apicobasal (AB) polarity in epithelial cells. PCP regulatory genes have been shown to be involved in the establishment of AB polarity in addition to regulating PCP. We have shown that the gut tube of the mouse embryo is a unique model system for the analysis of epithelial polarities, e.g., oriented cell division and AB polarity, with respect to the PCP pathway. The regulation of epithelial polarity by the PCP pathway might play an essential role in organ morphogenesis relating to physiological function.