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  Volume 2 Number 4   August 17, 2006

Vascular endothelial cells can be induced to display the morphology of capillary tubes and further network formation on Matrigel, which can serve as an in vitro angiogenic activity assay.  Endothelial cells could not efficiently form capillary tubes and network when they were laid over the Matrigel without VEGF and FBS.  Similar results were observed if the Matrigel was mixed only with MCF-7 breast cancer cells or macrophages.  However, the Matrigel combined with MCF-7 cells plus macrophages was capable of inducing efficient vascular endothelial cell capillary tube and network formation.  The induction level was superior to that with Matrigel mixing with 100 ng/ml of VEGF.  Time-lapse photography was performed to monitor the whole process.  It was observed that capillary tube and network formation began at ~1.5 h and soon peaked at ~3.5 h.  After 6 h, the network gradually broke down and the cells finally aggregated.

For more, please see the movie (http:www.mupnet.com/JOCM2(4)movie.htm), research paper ([PDF]), and review paper ([PDF]) published in this issue.