RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Extracellular Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR) Is a Critical Modulator of Skeletal Development JF Science Signaling JO Sci. Signal. FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP ra1 OP ra1 DO 10.1126/scisignal.1159945 VO 1 IS 35 A1 Chang, Wenhan A1 Tu, Chialing A1 Chen, Tsui-Hua A1 Bikle, Daniel A1 Shoback, Dolores YR 2008 UL http://stke.sciencemag.org/content/1/35/ra1.abstract AB The extracellular Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaSR) plays a nonredundant role in the functions of the parathyroid gland (PTG) and the kidney. Severe hyperparathyroidism, premature death, and incomplete gene excision in Casr−/− mice have precluded the assessment of CaSR function in other tissues. We generated mice with tissue-specific deletion of Casr in the PTG, bone, or cartilage. Deletion of Casr in the PTG or bone resulted in profound bone defects, whereas deletion of Casr in chondrocytes (cartilage-producing cells) resulted in death before embryonic day 13 (E13). Mice in which chondrocyte-specific deletion of Casr was induced between E16 and E18 were viable but showed delayed growth plate development. Our data show a critical role for the CaSR in early embryogenesis and skeletal development.