Quantitative Analysis of Angiogenesis Using the Murine Chronic Granulomatous Air Pouch

Angiogenesis, the growth of new capillary blood vessels is an integral part of development, repair, and reproduction. Normal tissue growth such as in embryonic development, wound repair, and the menstrual cycle is characterized by dependence on new vessel formation for the supply of oxygen and nutrients, as well as the removal of waste products. Also, a large number of different and nonrelated diseases are associated with angiogenesis, e.g., tissue damage postreperfusion of ischemic tissue (1 ,2 ). In several diseases, excessive angiogenesis is part of the pathology, e.g., cancer (both solid and hematological), cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis), chronic inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease), diabetes (diabetic retinopathy), and psoriasis. These diseases may benefit from therapeutic inhibition of angiogenesis (3 ,4 ).