ncor2 is expressed in the AGM region and is required for HSC development in zebrafish. (A) Cryosectioning of zebrafish embryos after WISH demonstrated that ncor2 is expressed in the blood vessel at 24 hpf. (B) Double FISH revealed that ncor2 is coexpressed with fli1 and cmyb in the AGM region. (C) Western blot revealed the protein level of Ncor2 in the control and ncor2 morphants at 24 hpf. (D) The expression pattern of HSC markers (runx1, cmyb) in the AGM region at 26 and 36 hpf, in the CHT region, and the T-cell marker (rag1) in the thymus at 4 dpf. (E) Confocal images using kdrl:mCherry/cmyb:GFP line demonstrated the HSC number in the control and ncor2 morphants at 36 hpf. White arrows indicate HSCs in the AGM region. (F) The quantification of kdrl⁺/cmyb⁺ HSCs shown in (E) (mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM], n = 12, *P < .05). (G) Western blot showed the protein level of Runx1 in the control and ncor2 morphants at 24 and 36 hpf. DA, dorsal aorta; PCV, posterior cardinal vein.