Quantitative estimates of angiogenic and anti-angiogenic activity by laserDoppler flowmetry (LDF) and near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS)

The use of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and near-infra-red spectroscopy (N IRS) for non-invasive in vivo measurements of angiogenic and anti-angiogeni c activity in nude mice was evaluated. Angiogenic foci were induced in the skin by implantation of slow release pellets containing 200 ng basic fibrob last growth factor (bFGF). LDF and NIRS recordings from induced foci were s ignificantly higher than placebo implants (P <0.05) and controls (P <0.001) . proving that LDF and NIRS provide measures of angiogenic activity. Corres pondingly, by these methods, an anti-angiogenic activity was significantly demonstrated in bFGF-stimulated animals treated with either the specific an ti-angiogenic compound TNP-470 (P <0.05) or the anti-inflammatory agent dex amethasone (P <0.001). We conclude that LDF and NIRS, alone or in combinati on, are useful non-invasive tools for early evaluation of angiogenic and an ti-angiogenic activity in vivo. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.