“…Vasculogenesis is 0 1995 WILEY-LISS, INC. known to occur within both the embryonic and extraembryonic mesoderm (Wagner, 1980) and is characterized by the differentiation of angioblasts from the mesoderm and either their immediate aggregation to give rise to endothelium or their directed migration through the embryo and eventual segregation into vascular cords (Pardanaud et al, 1987(Pardanaud et al, , 1989Poole, 1988, 1991;Noden, 1989;Wagner, 1980). The formation of the larger vascular network which includes the dorsal aorta, blood islands, the endocardium of the heart, and the cardinal and vitelline vessels, is accomplished by vasculogenesis (Kadokawa et al, 1990;Noden, 19891, whereas the vascularization of many organs and structures such as intersomatic vessels, the brain and kidney, are accomplished by a n active angiogenic process (Kadokawa et al, 1990;Sariola et al, 1983;Noden, 1989). The factors controlling both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis remain unclear.…”