Novel approaches for the study of vascular assembly and morphogenesis in avian embryos

Dynamic imaging of primary capillary bed formation in a warm-blooded embryo now is readily accomplished with the use of modern digital cameras, software, and instrumentation. The precise dynamic behavior of endothelial cells and their emergent vascular patterns are easily recorded and quantified in exquisite detail. As an example, we present data regarding vasculogenesis and vascular remodeling under normal and vascular endothelial growth factor-stimulated conditions, including corresponding computational analyses of endothelial cell behavior. The results show that the quail embryo provides an excellent experimental system to test reagents hypothesized to play a role in vascularization of tumors, engineered tissues, or wound sites.