Fig. 6

Morpholino knockdown of mvda induces potent apoptosis in heart and eyes. Control-MO-injected embryos and embryos injected with mvda-e3i3-MO were stained with acridine orange at 4-dpf. Apoptotic cells are visible as bright green spots, and less bright homogenous green staining is unspecific background staining. A, C Control-MO-injected zebrafish exhibited few or no apoptotic cells in heart and eyes. B, D In contrast, significantly increased staining was observed throughout the heart and eyes in zebrafish injected with mvda-e3i3-MO (circled areas and red arrow). E Quantification of apoptosis particle number at heart shows a 15.8-fold increase in mvda morphants. F Quantification of apoptosis particle number at eyes shows a 24-fold increase in mvda morphants. Error bars, s.e.m.; ***P < 0.0001(n = 10; Student’s t test); A–D: lateral view, anterior, left. dpf days post fertilization. Scale bars = 100 µm