PUBLICATION

In vivo imaging of embryonic vascular development using transgenic zebrafish

Authors
Lawson, N.D. and Weinstein, B.M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-020812-1
Date
2002
Source
Developmental Biology   248(2): 307-318 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Lawson, Nathan, Weinstein, Brant M.
Keywords
angiogenesis; transgenics; vascular development; zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Brain/blood supply*
  • Brain/embryology*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
  • Blood Vessels/embryology*
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Germ-Line Mutation/genetics
  • Transgenes/genetics*
  • Microscopy, Confocal/methods*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Luminescent Proteins/genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins/metabolism
  • Animals
  • Genes, Reporter/genetics
  • Time Factors
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
(all 18)
PubMed
12167406 Full text @ Dev. Biol.
Abstract
In this study we describe a model system that allows continuous in vivo observation of the vertebrate embryonic vasculature. We find that the zebrafish fli1 promoter is able to drive expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in all blood vessels throughout embryogenesis. We demonstrate the utility of vascular-specific transgenic zebrafish in conjunction with time-lapse multiphoton laser scanning microscopy by directly observing angiogenesis within the brain of developing embryos. Our images reveal that blood vessels undergoing active angiogenic growth display extensive filopodial activity and pathfinding behavior similar to that of neuronal growth cones. We further show, using the zebrafish mindbomb mutant as an example, that the expression of EGFP within developing blood vessels permits detailed analysis of vascular defects associated with genetic mutations. Thus, these transgenic lines allow detailed analysis of both wild type and mutant embryonic vasculature and, together with the ability to perform large scale forward-genetic screens in zebrafish, will facilitate identification of new mutants affecting vascular development.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Figure Gallery (6 images)
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Expression
No data available
Phenotype
No data available
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
ta52b
    Point Mutation
    y1TgTransgenic Insertion
      1 - 2 of 2
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      Human Disease / Model
      No data available
      Sequence Targeting Reagents
      No data available
      Fish
      1 - 2 of 2
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      Antibodies
      No data available
      Orthology
      Engineered Foreign Genes
      Marker Marker Type Name
      EGFPEFGEGFP
      1 - 1 of 1
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      Mapping