biostudies-literaturePaulissen SMIntramural NIH HHSEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentNHLBI NIH HHSdev199676https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8959142biostudies-literatureUnknown149(5)The pectoral fins of teleost fish are analogous structures to human forelimbs, and the developmental mechanisms directing their initial growth and patterning are conserved between fish and tetrapods. The forelimb vasculature is crucial for limb function, and it appears to play important roles during development by promoting development of other limb structures, but the steps leading to its formation are poorly understood. In this study, we use high-resolution imaging to document the stepwise assembly of the zebrafish pectoral fin vasculature. We show that fin vascular network formation is a stereotyped, choreographed process that begins with the growth of an initial vascular loop around the pectoral fin. This loop connects to the dorsal aorta to initiate pectoral vascular circulation. Pectoral fin vascular development continues with concurrent formation of three elaborate vascular plexuses, one in the distal fin that develops into the fin-ray vasculature and two near the base of the fin in association with the developing fin musculature. Our findings detail a complex, yet highly choreographed, series of steps involved in the development of a complete, functional, organ-specific vascular network.Development (Cambridge, England)Anatomy and development of the pectoral fin vascular network in the zebrafish.PMC8959142ZIA-HD008915R01 HL133687ZIA HD001011ZIA HD008915ZIA-HD001011Paulissen SMCastranova DMBurns MCMenendez JKrispin SMWeinstein BMTorres-Vazquez JfalseAnatomy and development of the pectoral fin vascular network in the zebrafish.The pectoral fins of teleost fish are analogous structures to human forelimbs, and the developmental mechanisms directing their initial growth and patterning are conserved between fish and tetrapods. The forelimb vasculature is crucial for limb function, and it appears to play important roles during development by promoting development of other limb structures, but the steps leading to its formation are poorly understood. In this study, we use high-resolution imaging to document the stepwise assembly of the zebrafish pectoral fin vasculature. We show that fin vascular network formation is a stereotyped, choreographed process that begins with the growth of an initial vascular loop around the pectoral fin. This loop connects to the dorsal aorta to initiate pectoral vascular circulation. Pectoral fin vascular development continues with concurrent formation of three elaborate vascular plexuses, one in the distal fin that develops into the fin-ray vasculature and two near the base of the fin in association with the developing fin musculature. Our findings detail a complex, yet highly choreographed, series of steps involved in the development of a complete, functional, organ-specific vascular network.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Mar2025-04-19T13:33:02.533Z2025-02-19T02:22:05.524ZS-EPMC89591423513243610.1242/dev.199676