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Updated: Feb 1, 2026
10:49
Isolation and Purification of Murine Cardiac Pericytes
Published on: August 16, 2019
10.0K
Pericyte Biology in Zebrafish.
Nabila Bahrami1, Sarah J Childs2
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|December 8, 2018
Summary
Zebrafish models reveal how pericyte development, crucial for vascular integrity, is regulated by blood flow and signaling pathways like Notch. These models aid in understanding vascular pathologies and mural cell roles.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Zebrafish are a powerful in vivo model for vascular biology research.
- Pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells are essential for vascular stability and integrity.
- Pericyte development is influenced by blood flow and signaling pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pericyte development and its role in vascular integrity using zebrafish.
- To understand the genetic and signaling mechanisms regulating pericyte numbers.
- To model vascular pathologies associated with pericyte dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- In vivo imaging of pericytes in zebrafish embryos.
- Utilizing genetic markers (pdgfrβ, notch3) to track pericyte development.
- Inducing mutations in genes (notch3, foxc1, foxf2) to create disease models.
Main Results:
- Pericytes associate with zebrafish vasculature early in development (day 2).
- Cerebral pericytes are neural crest-derived, except in the hindbrain (mesoderm-derived).
- Trunk vasculature pericytes are mesoderm-derived and influenced by Notch, SONIC HEDGEHOG, and BMP signaling.
Conclusions:
- Pericyte development is vital for stabilizing the vasculature and preventing hemorrhage.
- Compromised pericyte development leads to vascular pathologies.
- Zebrafish models offer insights into pericyte biology and vascular disease mechanisms.
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