The primitive erythroid (red blood cell) lineage is the first haematopoietic lineage to arise during vertebrate embryogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and SCL are both important during the establishment of the haematopoietic system, and Martin and co-workers(p. 693) examine their roles during early erythrocyte development. Using Vegf lo,an allele that generates low levels of VEGF, they find that VEGF promotes the expansion potential and lifespan of primitive erythrocyte precursors. It also has a tight dose-dependent effect on the survival of erythrocytes in the yolk sac; low levels of VEGF appear to result in high levels of apoptosis. Gain-of-function SCL partly alleviates the haematopoietic defect caused by Vegf lo, and the authors suggest that VEGF promotes erythrocyte survival via the anti-apoptotic function of SCL. Martin et al. also speculate that SCL could be involved in the increased expansion potential of primitive erythrocyte precursors.

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