Process in tissue or organ development in which epithelium induces changes in the mesenchyme and the mesenchyme also induces changes in the epithelium, through paracrine signaling.
Note: An example occurs during development of the
prostate, in which mesenchyme of the
urogenital sinus influences differentiation and patterning of the prostatic epithelium, and the developing epithelium induces prostatic mesenchymal cells to differentiate into smooth muscle and other prostatic
stromal cells.
See also: epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition
Source:
PAC, 2016, 88, 713. 'Glossary of terms used in developmental and reproductive toxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2016)' on page 799 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-1202)