Time-lapse imaging of endothelial barrier dysfunction in response to the serine protease, thrombin.

<p>Extended depth of focus projection of the trunk vessels from a 5 dpf <i>Tg(kdrl:GFP)^la116</i> zebrafish larva (<b>A</b>). The EGFP-labeled endothelium appears green while the 0.1 µm FluoSpheres are pseudocolored red. Data were collected at baseline and at 10 minute intervals following exposure to thrombin (0.01 units/µL) for a total collection period of 3 hours. Localized increases in permeability, as evidenced by accumulation of microspheres outside the vessel wall (white arrows) were apparent by 1 h (panel <b>2</b>) and increased over time (panels 3–6). The zoomed images (<b>B</b>) from boxed region of panel A1 show a clear break in the endothelial layer at 1 hour (panel 4). A total of 8 larvae were examined with equivalent results. These data were confirmed in a subset of larvae (n = 3) using high magnification (60X, 1.4 NA) point scanning confocal imaging and showed extensive accumulation of Fluospheres outside the vessel wall (<b>C</b>). In contrast, 5 dpf zebrafish larvae (n = 8) exposed to the thromboxane mimetic, U-46619 showed no evidence for disrupted barrier function (<b>D</b>).