Distinct Requirements for Zebrafish Angiogenesis Revealed by a VEGF-A Morphant

Abstract

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.

Cited by papers we hold 4

• Loss of Pten promotes angiogenesis and enhanced vegfaa expression in zebrafish · 2013
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• Haemodynamics-Driven Developmental Pruning of Brain Vasculature in Zebrafish · 2012
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• VEGF and Delta-Notch: interacting signalling pathways in tumour angiogenesis · 2008
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• Ets1-Related Protein Is a Key Regulator of Vasculogenesis in Zebrafish · 2005
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