title: The Aortic Ring Assay and Its Use for the Study of Tumor Angiogenesis.
abstract: This chapter describes protocols developed in our laboratory to prepare and analyze angiogenic cultures of rat aorta. Rings of rat aorta cultured in collagen gels produce neovessel outgrowths which reproduce ex vivo key steps of the angiogenic process including endothelial migration, proliferation, proteolytic digestion of the extracellular matrix, capillary tube formation, pericyte recruitment, and vascular regression. The angiogenic response of aortic explants can be stimulated with growth factors or inhibited with anti-angiogenic molecules. Aortic ring cultures can also be used to study tumor angiogenesis. Protocols outlined in this chapter describe how this assay can be modified to investigate the angiogenic activity of cancer cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Alfred C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Aplin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. roberto.nicosia@va.gov.|Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S-113), Veterans Administration Puget Sound Health Care System, Box 358280, 1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA, 98108, USA. roberto.nicosia@va.gov.
authors.forename: Roberto F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Nicosia
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D051381:Rats; D016610:Tissue Embedding
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Cancer cells; Collagen; Endothelial cells; Neovascularization; Pericytes