title: Fractal analysis of extra-embryonic vessels of chick embryos under the effect of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates.
abstract: Like heparan sulfate proteoglycans, some monosaccharides and glycosaminoglycans, such as sulfated glucosamine (GS) and chondroitin (CS), integrate the vascular extracellular matrix and may influence vascular endothelial cell growth. To assess the effects of these substances on blood vessel formation, we used the chick yolk sac membrane (YSM) model and fractal geometry quantification, which provided an objective in vivo method for testing potential agents that promote vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. An image processing method was developed to evaluate YSM capillary vessels after they were implanted in a methylcellulose disk of GS or CS at a concentration between 0.001-0.1mg/disk (performed on 2-day old embryos). This method resulted in a binary image of the microvascular network (white vessels on a black background). Fractal box-counting (DBC) and information (DINF) dimensions were used to quantify the activity of GS and CS in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. YSM treated with GS (0.001-0.1mg) and CS (0.03-0.1mg) showed an increase in fractal dimensions that corresponded to vitelline vessel growth compared to the control group (vehicle), with GS displaying higher fractal dimension values.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Theoretical, Experimental and Computational Biophysics, Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Rural Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil; Laboratory of Studies on Bioactivity and Animal Morphogenesis, Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Katharine
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: de Souza Lins Borba
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Studies on Bioactivity and Animal Morphogenesis, Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovanni Loos Queiroz
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Theoretical, Experimental and Computational Biophysics, Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Rural Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edbhergue Ventura Lola
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Studies on Bioactivity and Animal Morphogenesis, Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lisie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Studies on Bioactivity and Animal Morphogenesis, Department of Cell Biology, Embryology and Genetics, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Fernando
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Theoretical, Experimental and Computational Biophysics, Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Rural Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil. Electronic address: ran.pe@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Romildo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque Nogueira
mesh_terms: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017709:Fractals; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D005944:Glucosamine
keywords: Angiogenesis; Chick yolk sac membrane; Chondroitin sulfate; Fractal dimension; Glucosamine sulfate; Vasculogenesis