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Title: Histology atlas of the developing mouse hepatobiliary hemolymphatic vascular system with emphasis on embryonic days 11.5-18.5 and early postnatal development

Author
item SWARTLEY, OLIVIA - North Carolina State University
item FOLEY, JULIE - National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS, NIH)
item Livingston, David
item SABIO, DAVID - Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc
item CULLEN, JOHN - North Carolina State University
item ELMORE, SUSAN - National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS, NIH)

Submitted to: Toxicologic Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2015
Publication Date: 3/10/2016
Citation: Swartley, O., Foley, J., Livingston, D.P., Sabio, D., Cullen, J., Elmore, S. 2016. Histology atlas of the developing mouse hepatobiliary hemolymphatic vascular system with emphasis on embryonic days 11.5-18.5 and early postnatal development. Toxicologic Pathology. 44:705-725.

Interpretive Summary: A correct formation of vessels is a crucial aspect of fetal development, particularly in liver tissue. For that reason scientists have used genetically altered mice to identify developmental anomalies associated with vessel development in liver tissue. A correct identification of the components of this system in normal animals, as the fetus develops, is crucial to understanding the effect of developmental disorders on survival and normal maturity of the fetus. Until now a comprehensive stage-by-stage development of vessels in fetal tissue has not been available. This publication is a comprehensive atlas of vessel development in normal mice tissue from 11 to 18 days after conception using 2D images of hematoxylin, eosin and immunohistochemical stained tissue. In addition, two 3 dimensional reconstructions are included that provide a unique perspective of this complex system. Potential abnormalities in embryo’s are also described.

Technical Abstract: A critical event in fetal development is the proper formation of the vascular system, of which the hepatobiliary system plays a pivotal role. This has lead pathologists and scientists to utilize transgenic mice to identify developmental disorders associated with the hepatobiliary vascular system. Vascular development is dependent upon normal vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and the transformation of vessels into their adult counterparts. Any alteration in vascular development has the potential to cause organ deformities or embryonic death. Numerous publications describe specific stages of vascular development relating to various organs but a single resource detailing the stage-by-stage development of the vasculature pertaining to the hepatobiliary system has not been available. This comprehensive histology atlas provides hematoxylin & eosin and immunohistochemical stained sections of the developing mouse blood and lymphatic vasculature with emphasis on the hepatobiliary system between embryonic days 11.5-18.5 and the early postnatal period. Additionally, this atlas includes two, three-dimensional video representations of the E11.5 and E18.5 embryonic mouse venous vascular system. Although the primary purpose of this atlas is to identify normal hepatobiliary vascular development, potential embryonic abnormalities are also described at various stages.