Matrigel Tube Formation
Matrigel Tube Formation - Related Videos
04:00
A Matrigel-Based Tube Formation Assay to Assess the Vasculogenic Activity of Tumor Cells
0 Views •
Cited by 121 •
2011
A tube formation assay is used to evaluate vascular activity of tumor cells.
03:50
From MEFs to Matrigel 3: Passaging hESCs from Matrigel onto Matrigel
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Cited by 3 •
2008
This video demonstrates how to maintain the growth of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in feeder cell-free conditions and how to continuously passage hESCs in feeder cell-free conditions. Confirmation of hESC pluripotency grown in feeder cell-free conditions by immunofluorescence microscopy is also demonstrated. Part 3 of 3.
06:40
From MEFs to Matrigel 2: Splitting hESCs from MEFs onto Matrigel
0 Views •
Cited by 4 •
2008
This video demonstrates how to maintain the growth of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in feeder cell-free conditions and how to continuously passage hESCs in feeder cell-free conditions. Confirmation of hESC pluripotency grown in feeder cell-free conditions by immunofluorescence microscopy is also demonstrated. Part 2 of 3.
08:12
Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay for the In Vitro Study of Angiogenesis
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Cited by 345 •
2014
The tube formation assay is a fast, quantifiable method for measuring in vitro angiogenesis. Endothelial cells are combined with conditioned media and plated on basement membrane extract. Tube formation occurs within hours and newly formed tubules easily quantified.
06:29
From MEFs to Matrigel I: Passaging hESCs in the Presence of MEFs
0 Views •
Cited by 6 •
2008
This video demonstrates how to grow human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeder cells. Part 1 of 3.
FAQs
Matrigel provides a basement-membrane-like environment containing extracellular-matrix proteins and growth factors. These components support endothelial-cell adhesion and create conditions in which cells can migrate, align, and remodel their surroundings. Because the matrix supplies both structural and biochemical cues, changes in network formation can reflect altered pro- or anti-angiogenic activity rather than cell organization alone.
The resulting network depends on several coordinated endothelial behaviors, including adhesion to the matrix, migration across its surface, alignment with neighboring cells, and remodeling into connected structures. Quantifying tube length, branching, junctions, or total tube area captures different aspects of this organization. Together, these measurements help distinguish stronger or weaker angiogenic responses.
Matrigel tube formation offers a rapid in vitro view of an early angiogenic stage, allowing endothelial organization to be assessed within hours. Animal and three-dimensional models provide complementary biological contexts that the assay does not replace. Its value lies in quickly examining network-forming responses before, or alongside, more complex model systems.
The workflow begins by preparing a layer of Matrigel and seeding endothelial cells onto that matrix. During the following hours, the cells organize into capillary-like networks through adhesion, migration, alignment, and remodeling. Researchers then evaluate the resulting structures by measuring features such as network length, branching, junction number, or total tube area.
Network length, branching, junctions, and total tube area provide complementary measures of endothelial organization. A treatment that changes these features can be evaluated for pro- or anti-angiogenic activity, rather than relying on a single visual impression. Selecting several structural readouts helps describe whether an intervention affects network extent, connectivity, or overall area.
The assay is useful for investigating vascular biology, cancer, tissue repair, and drug screening. In cancer studies, it can help assess effects on angiogenic activity, while tissue-repair research can examine responses relevant to new vessel growth. Its rapid in vitro format also makes it a practical complement to animal and three-dimensional approaches.