PUBLICATION

Imaging the developing lymphatic system using the zebrafish

Authors
Yaniv, K., Isogai, S., Castranova, D., Dye, L., Hitomi, J., and Weinstein, B.M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-080309-22
Date
2007
Source
Novartis Foundation symposium   283(1): 139-148 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Castranova, Dan, Isogai, Sumio, Weinstein, Brant M., Yaniv, Karina
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels/embryology
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods*
  • Lymphatic System/embryology*
  • Lymphatic Vessels/embryology
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
PubMed
18300419 Full text @ Novartis Found Symp.
Abstract
The lymphatic system is essential for immune responses, fluid homeostasis, and fat absorption, and is involved in many pathological processes, including tumour metastasis and lymphoedema. Despite its importance, progress in understanding the origins and early development of this system has been hampered by difficulties in observing lymphatic cells in vivo and performing genetic and experimental manipulation of the lymphatic system. These difficulties stem in part from the lack of a model organism combining these features. The zebrafish is a genetically accessible vertebrate with an optically clear embryo permitting high-resolution in vivo imaging, but the existence of a lymphatic vascular system has not been previously reported in this model organism. Using a series of morphological, molecular and functional studies we have visualized and characterized lymphatic vessels in the developing zebrafish. Our studies show that the zebrafish possesses a lymphatic system that shares many of the characteristic features of lymphatic vessels found in other vertebrates. Using multiphoton time-lapse imaging we have carried out in vivo cell tracking experiments to trace the origins of lymphatic endothelial cells. Our data provide conclusive new evidence supporting a venous origin for primitive lymphatic endothelial cells.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping