Abstract

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos treated with a small plant molecule, genistein generated a mimic of zebrafish VEGF-A loss of function model. These embryos develop with an enlarged pericardium and major blood vessel deficiencies and their morphological assessment after 48 h post fertilization indicates a nearly complete absence of both axial and intersegmental vasculature with no or reduced numbers of circulating red blood cells resulting in distinctive phenotype of “heart and soul”. Thus, zebrafish provides an excellent vertebrate model system to study developmental process and identify novel genes involved during development.

Key words: Genistein, VEGF, has, vertebrate development, zebrafish, angiogenesis