Dynamics of neovascularization in normal tissue

Neovascularization of normal tissue was investigated by observing tissue grown in a transparent rabbit ear chamber. Stereological principles, applied to photomicrographs of the tissue, quantified vascular characteristics such as surface area, volume, and length per cubic millimeter of tissue. Mathematical models were developed to simulate growth of the microvasculature. The model developed here possesses, at least from a qualitative point of view, two important properties of observable growth kinetics: cell debris, mostly dead red blood cells and platelets, is required for the neovascularization to begin, and vessel density exhibits a maximum before reaching the steady-state value.