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Adenoviral‐mediated expression of antisense RNA to fibroblast growth factors disrupts murine vascular development
Author(s) -
Leconte Isabelle,
Fox Jonathan C.,
Baldwin H. Scott,
Buck Clayton A.,
Swain Judith L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0177(199812)213:4<421::aid-aja7>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - biology , fibroblast growth factor , antisense rna , yolk sac , embryo , embryonic stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , sense (electronics) , gene expression , gene , genetics , electrical engineering , receptor , engineering
Abstract Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are expressed in the developing embryo and are postulated to regulate embryonic and vascular growth. The goal of this study was to elucidate the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF‐2) in early murine embryonic cardiovascular development in the mouse embryo. Gestation day 7.5 embryos were harvested and placed in culture, and 12 hr later replication‐defective adenovirus (0.5 × 10 6 plaque forming units) encoding either β‐galactosidase or antisense FGF‐2 RNA was injected into the sinus venosus of the cultured embryos. Embryos receiving only replication‐defective adenovirus expressing the β‐galactosidase gene continued to develop normally over the next 12 hr. In contrast, those receiving adenovirus encoding antisense FGF‐2 RNA displayed marked morphogenetic abnormalities, including cessation of growth and abnormal yolk sac vascular development, even though the embryonic hearts continued to beat. Abnormal development of the yolk sac vasculature was confirmed by microangiography and by histologic examination. Coinjection of virus carrying FGF‐2 cDNA in the sense orientation reversed the effects of antisense FGF‐2 RNA expression. These results confirm the efficacy of the replication‐defective adenovirus for targeting gene expression to the developing vasculature and provide evidence for a critical role of FGF in the normal vascular assembly in the early embryo. Cessation of embryonic growth on expression of antisense FGF‐2 RNA was most likely attributable to failure of efficient circulation of the early embryonic blood cells from the yolk sac into the embryo. Dev. Dyn. 1998;213:421–430. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.