Fig. 2

Flt1 mutants develop hyper-branched vascular networks at the level of the neural tube.

(a) Trunk vasculature in 4 dpf WT sibling, (b) trunk vasculature in 4 dpf flt1^ka601 mutant, in Tg(kdrl:EGFP)^s843 background. Perfused aISVs with red arrow, veins with blue arrow. Note the extensive amount of hyper-branching (dotted box) at the level of the neural tube. (c) Schematic representation of hyper-branching phenotype along the neural tube; ectopic vessels make anastomosis between vISV (blue) with aISVs (red). (d) Hyper-branching (dotted box) is also observed in flt1^ka602 and (e) flt1^ka603 mutants. (f) Quantification of hyper-branching for indicated mutant alleles. Mean±s.e.m., n=10 per group, ANOVA. (g) Membrane-bound flt1 mutant (flt1^ka605) without vascular phenotype (compare dotted box in g, with control in a). (h–k) Trunk vascular network in WT embryos at indicated time points. (l–o) Trunk vasculature in flt1^{ka601 /+} embryos at indicated time points. (p–s) Trunk vasculature in flt1^ka601 embryos at indicated time points. Arrowheads indicate ectopic branches. DA, dorsal aorta; PCV, posterior cardinal vein; DLAV, dorsal longitudinal anastomotic vessel; NT, neural tube; hpf, hours post fertilization; dpf, days post fertilization. Scale bar, 50 μm in a,b,d,e,g,i,m,q,k,o,s; 25 μm in h,l,p,j,n,r.