Quantitation of angiogenesis and antiangiogenesis in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro - an overview.

Angiogenesis is defined as the sprouting of new capillaries from pre-existing ones. Angiogenesis is a prerequisite for growth and differentiation of organs and tissues and is involved in many pathological processes, for example growth and metastasis of tumours. Numerous in vivo and in vitro models of angiogenesis have been developed in order to identify and analyse pro- and antiangiogenic factors. This review aims at outlining the topic of quantitation of angiogenesis and antiangiogenesis in these models.