Effects of thrombin and of the phospholipase C inhibitor, D609, on the vascularity of the chick chorioallantoic membrane.

Abstract Microvascular corrosion casting was used to assess the effects of thrombin and D609, a phospholipase C inhibitor, on the vascularity of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Discs containing vehicle, thrombin or D609 were placed on the CAM of fertilized white Leghorn eggs on Day 9 of gestation and vascularity was assessed on Day 11. Thrombin caused significant increases in the numbers (43%), diameters (5%) and lengths (17%), of both pre- and postcapillaries (first-order vessels by centripetal ordering). Conversely, D609 caused a decrease in the numbers (27%), lengths (12%) and diameters (8%) of first-order vessels. D609 decreased the total vascular volume of first- to th…