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Distinct requirements for zebrafish angiogenesis revealed by a VEGF‐A morphant
Author(s) -
Nasevicius Aidas,
Larson Jon,
Ekker Stephen C.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
yeast
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.923
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1097-0061
pISSN - 0749-503X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0061(200012)17:4<294::aid-yea54>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - biology , zebrafish , angiogenesis , vegf receptors , zoology , computational biology , genetics , cancer research , gene
Angiogenesis is a fundamental vertebrate developmental process that requires signalling by the secreted protein vascular endothelial growth factor‐A ( VEGF‐A ). VEGF‐A functions in the development of embryonic structures, during tissue remodelling and for the growth of tumour‐induced vasculature. The study of the role of VEGF‐A during normal development has been significantly complicated by the dominant, haplo‐insufficient nature of VEGF‐A ‐targeted mutations in mice. We have used morpholino‐based targeted gene knock‐down technology to generate a zebrafish VEGF‐A morphant loss of function model. Zebrafish VEGF‐A morphant embryos develop with an enlarged pericardium and with major blood vessel deficiencies. Morphological assessment at 2 days of development indicates a nearly complete absence of both axial and intersegmental vasculature, with no or reduced numbers of circulating red blood cells. Molecular analysis using the endothelial markers fli‐1 and flk‐1 at 1 day of development demonstrates a fundamental distinction between VEGF‐A requirements for axial and intersegmental vascular structure specification. VEGF‐A is not required for the initial establishment of axial vasculature patterning, whereas all development of intersegmental vasculature is dependent on VEGF‐A signalling. The zebrafish thus serves as a quality model for the study of conserved vertebrate angiogenesis processes during embryonic development. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.