Zebrafish and Xenopus tadpoles: small animal models to study angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
Small vertebrate organisms have emerged as key players in the post-genomic era for the functional characterization of novel genes on a high-throughput scale. In this context, the zebrafish embryos and Xenopus tadpoles represent attractive and valuable models to rapidly identify and characterize novel genes involved in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis-a significant task with a consequent impact on the design of more effective therapeutic strategies. The advantages of these two models will be discussed in the present review.
Ny
Annelii
A
Center for Transgene Technology and Gene Therapy, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, KULeuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Autiero
Monica
M
Carmeliet
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*