Ultrasound assessment of angiogenesis in a matrigel model in rats.
Matrigel, a basement membrane extract, has been extensively used in in vivo angiogenesis. Contrast ultrasound imaging (CUI) of implanted Matrigel plugs with (+bFGF) and without basic fibroblast growth factor (-bFGF) was performed 7 and 14 d after implantation, followed by histologic analysis. Statistically significant differences between +bFGF and -bFGF plugs were apparent at d 7 in both plug size and contrast enhancement (both p < 0.05). Histopathology revealed differences in microvessel density (MVD) between +bFGF and -bFGF at d 7 and d 14. A significant correlation between MVD and both power Doppler contrast-enhanced area (r = 0.65, p < 0.05) and fraction of plug enhanced (r = 0.59, p < 0.05) was present. CUI of Matrigel plugs was shown to be a robust method for distinguishing between two different angiogenic states. Ultrasound measurements of blood flow in the plugs correlated with MVD, a histologic technique used to quantify tumor angiogenesis.
Stieger
Susanne M
SM
Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. smstieger@ucdavis.edu
Bloch
Susannah H
SH
Foreman
Oded
O
Wisner
Erik R
ER
Ferrara
Katherine W
KW
Dayton
Paul A
PA