Blood and Lymphatic Vessel Formation

Blood and lymphatic vessels deliver oxygen and nutrients, remove waste and CO 2 , and regulate interstitial pressure in tissues and organs. These vessels begin life early in embryogenesis using transcription factors and signaling pathways that regulate differentiation, morphogenesis, and proliferation. Here we describe how these vessels develop in the mouse embryo, and the signals that are important to their development. Outline 1 Introduction 2 Development of blood vessels 3 Development of lymphatic vessels 4 Genetic networks in blood and lymphatic vessel formation 5 Compelling questions in blood and lymphatic vessel development