Figure 2

Blockade of Apela expression suppresses vessel differentiation. (A, B) Representative confocal images of caudal fins of adult zebrafish (15–20 fins/per experiment) that were electroporated with control Mo-CTL and Mo directed against Apela (Mo-Apela), and fin were allowed to regenerate for 3 days prior Apela expression analysis by immunohistochemistry using an anti-Apela. (C, D) MO-Apela had no effect on total fin regeneration. (E) Schematic representation of anastomotic bridge with emerging sprouts forming vascular plexus and the U-shaped formed by the artery and the two veins. (F) Inhibition of Apela by MO-Apela prevents remodeling of immature vascular network during fin regenerating in Tg(fli:EGFP)^y, as observed with the enhanced plexus (G) and branching (H) vasculature. Results are shown as means ± S.E. of three experiments performed in triplicate. *p < 0.05. NS, not significant.