Vascular biology has become one of the most exciting fields in the
biomedical sciences. The development of molecular biology and of genetic
approaches in the mouse embryo has large- ly contributed to our current
understanding of the biology of the vascular cell. Major advances have
been achieved in the understanding of vascular development and in the
role of the vas- culature in various physiological or pathological
processes. The aim of the present book is to provide the reader with a
reference in which information can be looked-up quickly or to spark
interest in a topic for later research. It should be valuable not only
for scientists working actively in vascular biology or in related fields
but also to clinicians because it will provide both with the necessary
information about the physiopathological mechanisms encountered in their
daily work. In addition, the book should also be of great help to
teachers and to students in the life sciences. We did not want to
organize this book in a textbook fashion. Instead, we chose to organize
the book alphabetically, thus providing the reader with rapid access to
information. However, we also wanted the various topics dealt with in
enough depth for it not to be so condensed and short as in a lexicon.
Thus, the book lies somewhere between the two.