PlexinD1 is required for proper patterning of the periocular vascular network and for the establishment of corneal avascularity during avian ocular development
Abstract
The anterior eye is comprised of an avascular cornea surrounded by a dense periocular vascular network and therefore serves as an excellent model for angiogenesis. Although signaling through PlexinD1 underlies various vascular patterning events during embryonic development, its role during the formation of the periocular vascular network is yet to be determined. Our recent study showed that PlexinD1 mRNA is expressed by periocular angioblasts and blood vessels during ocular vasculogenesis in patterns that suggest its involvement with Sema3 ligands that are concurrently expressed in the anterior eye. In this study, we used in vivo knockdown experiments to determine the role of PlexinD1 during vascular patterning in the anterior eye of the developing avian embryos. Knockdown of PlexinD1 in the anterior eye caused mispatterning of the vascular network in the presumptive iris, which was accompanied by lose of vascular integrity and profuse hemorrhaging in the anterior chamber. We also observed ectopic vascularization of the cornea in PlexinD1 knockdown eyes, which coincided with the formation of the limbal vasculature in controls. Finally we show that Sema3E and Sema3C transcripts are expressed in ocular tissue that is devoid of va...Continue Reading
References
Tie2Cre-mediated inactivation of plexinD1 results in congenital heart, vascular and skeletal defects
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Arterial-Venous in Development & Disease
Arterial-venous development may play a crucial role in cardiovascular diseases. Here is the latest research.
Cell Adhesion Molecules in the Brain
Cell adhesion molecules found on cell surface help cells bind with other cells or the extracellular matrix to maintain structure and function. Here is the latest research on their role in the brain.
Aphasia
Aphasia affects the ability to process language, including formulation and comprehension of language and speech, as well as the ability to read or write. Here is the latest research on aphasia.