Mesenchymal miR-21 regulates branching morphogenesis in murine submandibular gland in vitro

►Forty-four microRNAs are detected in the submandibular gland at embryonic day 13. ►MicroRNA21 (miR-21) expression in the mesenchyme is up-regulated during culture. ►Down-regulation of miR-21 leads to a decrease in the number of epithelial buds.