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Distal angiogenesis: a new concept for lung vascular morphogenesis
Marta Canis Parera1, Marieke van Dooren, Marjon van Kempen
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasms Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
|September 21, 2004
Summary
Early lung development involves a pre-existing vascular network. This study proposes distal angiogenesis, where capillary networks surround growing lung buds, expanding via new vessel formation from existing ones.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cardiovascular research
- Pulmonary medicine
Background:
- The precise mechanisms of pulmonary vascular development in early lung morphogenesis remain unclear.
- Existing models propose either combined vasculogenesis and angiogenesis or solely vasculogenesis for lung vasculature formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphological development of the murine pulmonary vasculature from 9.5 to 13.5 days postcoital (dpc).
- To elucidate the relationship between airway and vascular development in the embryonic lung.
Main Methods:
- Morphological analysis of fetal murine lungs from 9.5 to 13.5 dpc.
- Utilized Tie2-LacZ transgenic mice and wild-type lungs stained with endothelial markers (Flk-1, Fli-1, PECAM-1).
- Maintained intact embryonic circulation during processing to preserve vascular integrity.
Main Results:
- A distinct vascular network is present from the earliest stages of lung development, connected to the embryonic circulation.
- Identified circulating primitive erythrocytes within vessels, confirming vascular patency and connection.
- Observed capillary networks surrounding terminal lung buds, expanding as the lung grows.
Conclusions:
- Propose a new concept of 'distal angiogenesis' for early pulmonary vascular morphogenesis.
- This model suggests capillary networks expand by forming new vessels from pre-existing ones as lung buds grow.
- The early establishment of a complete vascular network is crucial for understanding embryonic development.