Following initiation of the heartbeat in vertebrate embryos, cells lining the aorta, the placental vessels, and the umbilical and vitelline arteries begin to form haematopoietic cells. Here it is shown that biochemical forces imposed on the vascular wall at this developmental stage strongly influence development of early blood cells and that abrogation of nitric oxide—a mediator of shear-stress-induced signalling—compromises haematopoietic potential in vitro and in vivo.
- Luigi Adamo
- Olaia Naveiras
- George Q. Daley
