Abstract
Malformation of the urogenital tract represents a considerable paediatric burden, with many defects affecting the lower urinary tract (LUT), genital tubercle and associated structures. Understanding the molecular basis of such defects frequently draws on murine models. However, human anatomical terms do not always superimpose on the mouse, and the lack of accurate and standardised nomenclature is hampering the utility of such animal models. We previously developed an anatomical ontology for the murine urogenital system. Here, we present a comprehensive update of this ontology pertaining to mouse LUT, genital tubercle and associated reproductive structures (E10.5 to adult). Ontology changes were based on recently published insights into the cellular and gross anatomy of these structures, and on new analyses of epithelial cell types present in the pelvic urethra and regions of the bladder. Ontology changes include new structures, tissue layers and cell types within the LUT, external genitalia and lower reproductive structures. Representative illustrations, detailed text descriptions and molecular markers that selectively label muscle, nerves/ganglia and epithelia of the lower urogenital system are also presented. The revised ontology will be an important tool for researchers studying urogenital development/malformation in mouse models and will improve our capacity to appropriately interpret these with respect to the human situation.
Footnotes
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing or financial interests.
Author contributions
K.M.G., J.A., J.R.K., K.M.M., E.M.S.-S., M.J.C., M.H.L., C.M.V. and C.M. contributed to the conception and design of the manuscript. J.R.K., C.E.L., E.M.S.-S., M.J.C., E.B., H.D., K.S., D.P.B., C.B.W., C.M.V. and C.M. contributed to acquisition of experimental data. K.M.G., J.R.K., C.E.L., K.M.M., E.M.S.-S., M.J.C., E.B., H.D., K.S., D.P.B., C.B.W., C.M.V. and C.M. contributed to analysis and interpretation of data. K.M.G., J.R.K., C.E.L., K.M.M., E.M.S.-S., M.J.C., M.H.L., C.M.V. and C.M. contributed to the preparation and critical revision of the manuscript. K.M.G., J.R.K., C.E.L., E.M.S.-S., C.M.V. and C.M. contributed to figure design. J.A., J.B., J.A.D., S.D.H. and R.A.B. contributed to the implementation of the ontology and associated GUDMAP website data.
Funding
The research of the authors was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) [grant R01DK085242 to K.M.M.] and National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants [DK070136 to M.H.L.], [DK083425 to C.M.V.], [DK092983 to J.A.D. and R.A.B.], [DK094523 and ES017099 to M.J.C.], [UO1 DK094479 to J.R.K.], [R56 DK078158 R01 DK078158 and subcontract on U01 DK070219 to E.M.S.-S.]. M.H.L. is a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Senior Principal Research Fellow. Deposited in PMC for release after 12 months.
Supplementary material
Supplementary material available online at http://dev.biologists.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1242/dev.117903/-/DC1
- Received November 2, 2014.
- Accepted April 1, 2015.
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