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Hedgehog signaling regulates size of the dorsal aortae and density of the plexus during avian vascular development
Author(s) -
Moran Carlos M.,
Salanga Matthew C.,
Krieg Paul A.
Publication year - 2011
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/dvdy.22600
Subject(s) - cyclopamine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , hedgehog , dorsal aorta , hedgehog signaling pathway , morphogenesis , anatomy , signal transduction , filopodia , plexus , sonic hedgehog , embryonic stem cell , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , stem cell , haematopoiesis , actin , gene
Signaling by the hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted growth factors is essential for development of embryonic blood vessels. Embryos lacking Hh function have abundant endothelial cells but fail to assemble vascular cords or lumenized endothelial tubes. However, the role of Hh signaling during later aspects of vascular patterning and morphogenesis is largely unexplored. We have used small molecule inhibitors and agonists to alter activity of the Hh signaling pathway in the chick embryo. When cyclopamine is added after cord formation, aortal cells form tubes, but these are small and disorganized and the density of the adjacent vascular plexus is reduced. Activation of the Hh pathway with SAG leads to formation of enlarged aortae and increased density of the plexus. The number of endothelial cell filopodia is found to correlate with Hh signaling levels. These studies show that Hh signaling levels must be tightly regulated for normal vascular patterning to be achieved. Developmental Dynamics 240:1354–1364, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.