Mark Lagatuz, Ruchi J Vyas, Marina Predovic, Shiyin Lim, Nicole Jacobs, Miguel Martinho, Hamed Valizadegan, David Kao, Nikunj Oza, Corey A Theriot, Susana B Zanello, Giovanni Taibbi, Gianmarco Vizzeri, Mariana Dupont, Maria B Grant, Daniel J Lindner, Hans-Christian Reinecker, Alexander Pinhas, Toco Y Chui, Richard B Rosen, Nicanor Moldovan, Mary B Vickerman, Krishnan Radhakrishnan, Patricia Parsons-Wingerter
The molecular signaling cascades that regulate angiogenesis and microvascular remodeling are fundamental to normal development, healthy physiology, and pathologies such as inflammation and cancer. Yet quantifying such complex, fractally branching vascular patterns remains difficult. We review application of NASA's globally available, freely downloadable VESsel GENeration (VESGEN) Analysis software to numerous examples of 2D vascular trees, networks, and tree-network composites. Upon input of a binary vascular image, automated output includes informative vascular maps and quantification of parameters such as tortuosity, fractal dimension, vessel diameter, area, length, number, and branch point...
2021: Journal of Vascular Research