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Characterization and applications of the disc angiogenesis system
J Kowalski1, H H Kwan, S D Prionas
1Institute of Immunology and Biological Sciences, Syntex Research, Palo Alto, California 94304.
Experimental and Molecular Pathology
|February 1, 1992
Summary
The Disc Angiogenesis System (DAS) models microvascular growth in animals, enabling researchers to quantify angiogenesis and test new treatments. This method accurately measures blood vessel formation, aiding in the study of wound healing and tumor development.
Area of Science:
- * Biomedical Engineering
- * Developmental Biology
- * Cancer Research
Background:
- * Microvascular proliferation is crucial for physiological and pathological processes.
- * Existing models have limitations in quantifying angiogenesis accurately.
- * The Disc Angiogenesis System (DAS) was developed to address these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To present and validate the Disc Angiogenesis System (DAS) as a model for studying microvascular proliferation.
- * To demonstrate the system's utility in quantifying angiogenesis and evaluating angiogenic factors.
- * To explore the DAS's application in modeling wound healing and tumor angiogenesis.
Main Methods:
- * Subcutaneous implantation of synthetic foam discs in experimental animals.
- * Measurement of microvessel and fibrovascular growth using morphometric analysis and digital image analysis.
- * Determination of cell proliferation via tritiated thymidine incorporation (scintillation counting and autoradiography).
Main Results:
- * DAS allows quantification of microvessel growth, proportional to fibrovascular growth.
- * Angiogenic agents (bFGF, EGF, prostaglandin E1) were confirmed to increase endothelial cell and microvessel proliferation.
- * Heparin enhanced bFGF effects; hyperthermia and radiation decreased angiogenesis; prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors antagonized angiogenic effects.
Conclusions:
- * The DAS is a reproducible and statistically accurate model for studying angiogenesis in vivo.
- * It effectively differentiates between endothelial cell and fibroblast proliferation and migration.
- * The DAS is valuable for testing angiogenesis modulators and modeling wound healing and tumor angiogenesis.