Fig. 7.

Mural cells regulate vascular outgrowth and stability through deposition of the basement membrane. Schematic representation of the role mural cells play in stabilization of blood vessels. Under control conditions, mural cells (green) delaminate from the sclerotome to associate with the dorsal aorta (red). These cells interact with the endothelium to promote basement membrane protein deposition and maintenance (pink). Under conditions in which mural cell recruitment is inhibited (i.e. pdgfrbDN) vascular stabilization is markedly disrupted and reduced basement membrane deposition is noted.