The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). A multifaceted experimental model

• Published in: Mechanisms of development Vol. 141; pp. 70 - 77
• Main Author: Ribatti, Domenico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.08.2016
• Subjects: Allantois - growth & development; Allantois - metabolism; Angiogenesis; Animals; Anti-angiogenesis; Chick Embryo; Chorioallantoic Membrane - growth & development; Chorioallantoic Membrane - metabolism; Chorion - growth & development; Chorion - metabolism; Embryonic Development - genetics; Endothelium, Vascular - growth & development; Humans; Models, Animal; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - genetics; Neovascularization, Physiologic - genetics; Tissue grafts; Tumor growth; Wound healing; Angiogenesis; Wound healing; Anti-angiogenesis; Tissue grafts; Tumor growth
• ISSN: 0925-4773; 1872-6356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2016.05.003

During avian development the mesodermal layers of the allantois and chorion fuse to form the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). This structure rapidly expands generating a rich vascular network that provides an interface for gas and waste exchange. The CAM allows to study tissue grafts, tumor growth and metastasis, wound healing, drugs delivery and toxicologic analysis, and angiogenic and anti-angiogenic molecules. The CAM is relatively simple, quick, and low-cost model that allows screening of a large number of pharmacological samples in a short time; does not require administrative procedures for obtaining ethics committee approval for animal experimentation. Moreover, being naturally immunodeficient, the chick embryo may receive transplantations from different tissues and species, without immune responses. •The CAM is relatively simple, quick, and low-cost model.•It allows screening of a large number of pharmacological samples.•The main limitation of CAM is a nonspecific inflammatory reaction.