The Flk1-myr::mCherry mouse as a useful reporter to characterize multiple aspects of ocular blood vessel development and disease

Dev Dyn. 2009 Sep;238(9):2318-26. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.21886.

Abstract

The highly vascularized mouse eye is an excellent model system in which to elucidate the molecular genetic basis of blood vessel development and disease. However, the analysis of ocular vessel defects has traditionally been derived from fixed tissue, which fails to account for dynamic events such as blood flow and cell migration. To overcome the limitations of static analysis, tremendous advances in imaging technology and fluorescent protein reporter mouse lines now enable the direct visualization of developing cells in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that the Flk1-myr::mCherry transgenic mouse is an extremely useful live reporter with broad applicability to retinal, hyaloid, and choroid vascular research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Eye / blood supply*
  • Eye / pathology
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Models, Biological
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Retinal Vessels / embryology*
  • Retinal Vessels / pathology*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / genetics*

Substances

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2