RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Induction of Pancreatic Differentiation by Signals from Blood Vessels JF Science JO Science FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP 564 OP 567 DO 10.1126/science.1064344 VO 294 IS 5542 A1 Lammert, Eckhard A1 Cleaver, Ondine A1 Melton, Douglas YR 2001 UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/294/5542/564.abstract AB Blood vessels supply developing organs with metabolic sustenance. Here, we demonstrate a role for blood vessels as a source of developmental signals during pancreatic organogenesis. In vitro experiments with embryonic mouse tissues demonstrate that blood vessel endothelium induces insulin expression in isolated endoderm. Removal of the dorsal aorta in Xenopus laevis embryos results in the failure of insulin expression in vivo. Furthermore, using transgenic mice, we show that ectopic vascularization in the posterior foregut leads to ectopic insulin expression and islet hyperplasia. These results indicate that vessels not only provide metabolic sustenance, but also provide inductive signals for organ development.