AngiogenesisIn VitroUtilizing Murine Vascular Explants in Miniaturized 3-Dimensional Collagen Gels.
Models of angiogenesisin vitroare used to study blood vessel morphogenesis and the effects of compounds that influence vascular growth. Herein, we describe techniques to induce angiogenesis-like sprouting from explants of mouse aortae and microvessels cultured in 3-dimensional gels of native type I collagen. The gels are supported by rings of nylon mesh that are sized to fit in 96-well culture plates. This mechanically-supported, miniaturized, 3-dimensional culture system requires only small quantities of cells and reagents and facilitates handling, staining, and imaging by conventional and confocal microscopy.
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
May J
MJ
Reed
Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
Mamatha
M
Damodarasamy
Hope Heart Matrix Biology Program, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, 1201 Ninth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101-2795, USA.
Robert B
RB
Vernon
3-dimensional; Mouse; angiogenesis; aorta; collagen; culture; explant; extracellular matrix; fat; gel; microvessels