Switching to external flows: perturbations of developing vasculature within chicken chorioallantoic membrane

Abstract

The impact of fluid flow shear stresses, generated by the movement of blood through vasculature, on the organization and maturation of vessels is widely recognized. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether external fluid flows outside of the vasculature in the surrounding tissue can similarly play a role in governing these processes. In this research, we introduce an innovative technique called superfusion-induced vascular steering (SIVS). SIVS involves the controlled imposition of external fluid flow patterns onto the vascularized chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), allowing us to observe how this impacts the organization of vascular networks. To investigate the concept of SIVS, we conducted superfusion experiments on the intact chick CAM cultured within an engineered eggshell system, using phosphate buffered saline (PBS). To capture and analyze the effects of superfusion, we employed a custom-built microscopy setup, enabling us to image both superfused and non-superfused regions within the developing CAM. This study provides valuable insights into the practical application of fluid superfusion within an in vivo context, shedding light on its significance for understanding tissue development and manipulation in an engineering setting.