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. 2015 Apr 15;10(4):e0119960. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119960

Fig 7. Mechanism of melatonin-inhibited branching morphogenesis in the embryonic submandibular gland.

Fig 7

Melatonin changes the morphology of epithelial cells with decreased projections in epithelial cells of the bud. Melatonin increases the direct epithelial cell-cell contacts. The cells are more closely packed and there is less apace between cells. As a result, the size of the organ and the activity of branching morphogenesis are reduced.