title: The sponge/Matrigel angiogenesis assay.
abstract: It has become increasingly clear that definitive tests for angiogenesis require in vivo assays. Recently, the Matrigel plug assay has become the method of choice for many studies involving in vivo testing for angiogenesis. In this assay, test angiogenesis-inducing compounds such as bFGF or tumor cells are introduced into cold liquid Matrigel which, after subcutaneous injection, solidifies and permits penetration by host cells and the formation of new blood vessels. Assessment of angiogenesis in the Matrigel plug is achieved either by measuring hemoglobin or by scoring selected regions of histological sections for vascular density. We now describe a modification of the Matrigel plug assay which permits a more precise visualization of the angiogenic reaction, provides directional information, requires no histological analysis, and lends itself to photographic documentation and image analysis protocols. We illustrate the assay by describing dose- and time-dependent responses to tumors of murine and human origin, to angiogenesis-inducing factors such as bFGF (FGF-2) and VEGF and to anti-angiogenic agents such as endostatin. The method has been used as well to demonstrate blood vessel recruitment by embryonic chick aortic arch rudiments. Additionally it has been able to detect strain-dependent differences in susceptibility to angiogenic stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Erin B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Auerbach
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004338:Drug Combinations; D043169:Endostatins; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007797:Laminin / Q000502:physiology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000502:physiology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D004338:Drug Combinations; D043169:Endostatins; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007797:Laminin; D008222:Lymphokines; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011509:Proteoglycans; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen