Angiogenesis

Synonyms

Capillarization; Neovascularization; Vessel growth

Definition

Postnatal vessel growth naturally occurs in the female reproductive system, in wound healing, and in skeletal muscle in response to exercise. Postnatal vessel growth has been assumed to occur as a functional modification of existing arteries such as the growth of preexisting vessels into functional collateral arteries (arteriogenesis) or the formation of new capillaries from an already established capillary network (angiogenesis) [5] (Fig. 1). Arteriogenesis in response to increased muscle activity has been reported in animal models, but only a few reports of arteriogenesis in response to exercise exist from healthy humans. Until recently, any increase in capillarity in human or animal skeletal muscle in response to exercise was assumed to reflect vessel growth due to angiogenesis [1, 4]. However, in 1997 the Isner laboratory reported that human peripheral blood contained CD34+/VEGFR2+ cells that contributed to...