Cell biology of ureter development

The mammalian ureter contains two main cell types: a multilayered water-tight epithelium called the urothelium, surrounded by smooth muscle layers that, by generating proximal to distal peristaltic waves, pump urine fromthe renal pelvis toward the urinary bladder. Here, we review the cellular mechanisms involved in the development of these tissues, and themolecules that control the process.We consider the relevance of these biologic findings for understanding the pathogenesis of human ureter malformations. Copyright © 2013 by the American Society of Nephrology.