TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of VEGF and bFGF on vascular stereomorphology in the context of angiogenic neo-arborisation after vascular induction

AU - Polykandriotis, E

AU - Arkudas, A

AU - Beier, J P

AU - Dragu, A

AU - Rath, S

AU - Pryymachuk, G

AU - Schmidt, V J

AU - Lametschwandtner, A

AU - Horch, R E

AU - Kneser, U

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - The aim of this in vivo study was to gather quantitative information on the three-dimensional morphology of a new vascular network under the influence of angioactive growth factors. For this purpose, the arteriovenous loop model was used in 10 Lewis rats to generate a bioartificial vascular assembly by means of vascular induction. In this model, an isolated organoid is created in the medial thigh of the animal by methods of tissue engineering. A fibrin gel containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF(165)) and basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) was used as a matrix in the effect group (GF+). Fibrin matrices devoid of growth factors were used as controls (GF-). A microvascular replica of the organoid was created by means of corrosion casting and the network was investigated on stereo-paired images obtained by scanning electron microscopy. Vectors of intercapillary and interbranching distances as well as the diameter of the pores in the intussusceptive events diameter and the ratio of sprouting versus intussusceptive angiogenic events were compared in the two groups. The results were highly significant. In the GF+ group there were more profound three-dimensional morphological traits of angiogenesis, whereas advanced neovascularisation in the phase of remodelling was demonstrated by a higher incidence of intussusception, compared to control. These results illustrate the importance of morphological studies with focus on the generation of three-dimensional vascular networks.

AB - The aim of this in vivo study was to gather quantitative information on the three-dimensional morphology of a new vascular network under the influence of angioactive growth factors. For this purpose, the arteriovenous loop model was used in 10 Lewis rats to generate a bioartificial vascular assembly by means of vascular induction. In this model, an isolated organoid is created in the medial thigh of the animal by methods of tissue engineering. A fibrin gel containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF(165)) and basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) was used as a matrix in the effect group (GF+). Fibrin matrices devoid of growth factors were used as controls (GF-). A microvascular replica of the organoid was created by means of corrosion casting and the network was investigated on stereo-paired images obtained by scanning electron microscopy. Vectors of intercapillary and interbranching distances as well as the diameter of the pores in the intussusceptive events diameter and the ratio of sprouting versus intussusceptive angiogenic events were compared in the two groups. The results were highly significant. In the GF+ group there were more profound three-dimensional morphological traits of angiogenesis, whereas advanced neovascularisation in the phase of remodelling was demonstrated by a higher incidence of intussusception, compared to control. These results illustrate the importance of morphological studies with focus on the generation of three-dimensional vascular networks.

KW - Animals

KW - Arteriovenous Anastomosis/anatomy & histology

KW - Capillaries/drug effects

KW - Corrosion Casting

KW - Femoral Artery/anatomy & histology

KW - Femoral Vein/anatomy & histology

KW - Fibrin

KW - Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/metabolism

KW - Gels

KW - Imaging, Three-Dimensional

KW - Microscopy, Electron, Scanning

KW - Neovascularization, Physiologic/drug effects

KW - Organ Culture Techniques

KW - Rats

KW - Rats, Inbred Lew

KW - Regenerative Medicine

KW - Tissue Engineering/methods

KW - Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism

U2 - 10.1093/jmicro/dfr025

DO - 10.1093/jmicro/dfr025

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21622976

VL - 60

SP - 267

EP - 274

JO - Microscopy (Oxford, England)

JF - Microscopy (Oxford, England)

SN - 2050-5698

IS - 4

ER -