Introduction
The vascular system is one of the first organ systems to develop in our bodies. Normal
development and maturation of the physiological functions of almost all of the other
organs are critically dependent on the accurate and tightly controlled establishment
of the vascular system. Our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the formation
of the vascular system during development is still in its infancy. With further understanding
of these mechanisms, we may eventually be able to correct the abnormal development
and the malfunctioning of many organs by therapeutically modulating the morphology
and/or physiological function of the vascular system.
Our further understanding of the vascular development can, in part, be achieved by
discovering the molecules that play critical roles in this process. We could also
achieve this goal by learning more about the functions of previously identified molecules
in the vascular system. Discovery of new processes underlying the development of the
vascular system will also contribute to further understanding of these molecular mechanisms.
Recent advances, using the whole genome approach, have resulted in a flood of new
information. This trend will continue, and fortunately, a number of molecular reagents
will become available. Therefore, the field will likely experience an exponential
growth in terms of novel biological insights and discovering the mechanisms of vascular
system development.
Occasionally, reductionistic approaches help to systematically address a number of
biological problems, including the problems associated with vascular system development.
One such approach is to choose an organism that allows us to systematically address
these biological questions. The choice of animal models that are well-suited for the
study of a particular question has led to a large number of discoveries. To address
questions in vascular system development, current research has focused on animal models,
including fish, frog, bird, and mouse, and also studies involving humans. It is also
worthwhile to note that the branching morphogenesis of the fly trachea system has
been utilized to address fundamental questions of vascular morphogenesis.
This chapter will summarize the genomic manipulation of the murine vascular system
to address questions regarding vascular development. In addition, the advances that
have been made in this field using such methods will be summarized.
