Developing an Ex Vivo Model of Ischemia Using Early Chick-Embryo: A Model to Study Ischemia Related Angiogenesis

Abstract

Ischemia created in the animals were long been used as a model to study ischemia mediated effects in vivo. Pathological angiogenesis is the key hallmark of various ischemic diseases where blood vessel formation was compromised due to low blood flow. New blood vessels form in order to compensate the low blood perfusion in the ischemic area. This neovascularization and remodeling of the existent vessels protect from the consequences of ischemia associated diseases like myocardial infarction and stroke. A better understanding of the mechanisms of functional vessel formation is a pre-requisite to improve the treatment of ischemic pathologies. Therefore, the research area warrants an easily accessible model in which vessel formation can be both manipulated and studied. However, a limited number of efforts have been put forward yet to develop an ischemia models where ischemia mediated remodeling of vessels can be studied in real time. In present study, we used 4 day grown chick embryo to ligate right vitelline artery and create partial ischemia in the vascular bed of the embryo. The model has been developed based on the principle that blocking blood flow in the vascular bed will stop the nutrient and oxygen supply to the adjacent vessels and thus creating an ischemia like condition. Additionally, ischemia related changes in angiogenesis can be followed and tracked in real time in the vascular bed of the chick embryo. The present ex vivo model can be utilized in studying ischemia related angiogenesis in specific and hypoxia and/or low oxygen mediated angiogenesis in general.