First published online August 24, 2007
Development 134, 1803e (2007)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
Vascular remodelling: feel the force
In mouse embryos, the heart begins beating and a network of blood vessels
forms in the yolk sac early in development. These initially simple structures
are then extensively remodelled. Vascular remodelling needs a normal blood
flow, but does this flow deliver oxygen, signalling molecules or mechanical
cues? On p. 3317,
Lucitti and co-workers report that haemodynamic force drives vascular
remodelling in mouse embryos. First, they use time-lapse confocal microscopy
and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to examine blood flow in
normal embryos and in embryos lacking myosin light chain 2a (in which impaired
cardiac contractility prevents vessel remodelling). These experiments indicate
that erythroblast entry into the circulation triggers vessel remodelling.
Next, the researchers show that using acrylamide to retain erythroblasts in
embryonic blood islands in vivo reduces shear stress and prevents vessel
remodelling, which is restored by the addition of a colloid that expands
plasma volume. Thus, haemodynamic force is necessary and sufficient to induce
vascular remodelling in the mammalian yolk sac.
Related articles in Development:
- Vascular remodeling of the mouse yolk sac requires hemodynamic force
- Jennifer L. Lucitti, Elizabeth A. V. Jones, Chengqun Huang, Ju Chen, Scott E. Fraser, and Mary E. Dickinson
Development 2007 134: 3317-3326.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
