Abstract:
All multi-cellular life begins as a single cell that undergoes several rounds of
division followed by differentiation to distinct cell types that make up the tissues and
developing organs. Embryos that have only a few cells can exchange nutrients and gases
by diffusion. However embryos grown beyond a few tens of microns require a means of
circulation that is not provided by diffusion. Early establishment of circulation is crucial
to animal development as all embryos with major circulatory defects cannot complete
development. This is especially important in the context of human fertility, as a large
number of conceptuses are lost due to early vascular defects and often go unnoticed. In
addition, complex controls on circulation also operate throughout the life of an animal.
Perturbations in the development or function of postnatal vasculature are also
detrimental. For example the requirement for aberrant angiogenesis in supporting tumor
formation is well known, as is the consequence of failure to switch from hematopoietic
stem cell to a differentiated cell type (Huntly et al., 2004). In light of the importance of
circulatory systems in development and disease, my interest is to study the molecules and
mechanisms that come to play in development and maintenance of this complex system.
Here I will introduce the circulatory system and suggest approaches to analyze it. I also
outline my approach to studying the blood vascular system using various mammalian cell
culture models.
