RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Endothelial cells form transient Notch-dependent NO-containing cystic structures during zebrafish cerebrovascular development
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 416206
DO 10.1101/416206
A1 E. Kugler
A1 K. Chhabria
A1 S. Daetwyler
A1 J. Huisken
A1 K. Plant
A1 A.M. Savage
A1 R.N. Wilkinson
A1 P.A. Armitage
A1 T.J.A. Chico
YR 2018
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/09/14/416206.abstract
AB Endothelial cell behaviour during blood vessel formation is highly complex and dynamic. Transgenic zebrafish have provided many new insights into these processes, due to their ability to provide detailed in vivo imaging.We here report a previously undescribed endothelial cell behaviour during zebrafish embryonic development. Endothelial cells of the cerebral vessels of 3-5d post fertilisation embryos extruded large membranous spherical structures. These were only found on the cerebral vessels, and did not detach from the parent vessel, instead regressing back into the endothelial cell. These structures did not communicate with the vessel lumen, exhibited periodic oscillations in size and shape, and were enriched with filamentous actin at their neck. Due to their unknown nature and spherical appearance we termed these structures kugeln (German for sphere).Pharmacological inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling significantly increased kugel number while Notch inhibition significantly reduced both kugel number and diameter. Kugeln contain little cytoplasm, but are highly positive for nitric oxide (NO) reactivity, suggesting they represent a novel NO containing organelle specific to the cerebral vessels.