Following injury and haemostasis, hypoxia, high lactate levels and acidosis stimulate angiogenesis. Under the influence of factors such as bFGF and VEGF, endothelial cells proliferate and form capillary buds. These cells secrete matrix metalloproteases which allow vascular buds to dissect through the wound matrix while EGF and PDGF recruit pericytes which stabilise the new vessel formation (Betsholtz C, Lindblom P, Gerhardt H. Role of pericytes in vascular morphogenesis. EXS9422005; 115 - 125