| Objective. To develop a murine model with reproducible, persistent retinal neovascularization (NV).
Methods. C57BL/6 mice were injected with Rose Bengal via the tail vein. Selected venous points close to the optic nerve head were photocoagulated. Ischemic retinopathy and retinal NV were assessed by fundus examination, retinal fluorescein-dextran angiography, immunochemical and histopathological examination. RT-PCR was used to examine retinal expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in animals undergoing photodynamic treatment compared to untreated controls.
Results. All eyes demonstrated successful occlusion on day 1 after treatment. Capillary nonperfusion areas in the territories of the occluded vessels were observed from day 3. Twenty eyes out of 33 (60.6%) developed retinal NV on the day 14, seen in FITC-perfused retinal flat-mounts. Immunochemical and histopathological features were consistent with neovascular proliferation on the surface of retina. RT-PCR showed an increase in the expression of VEGF on day 7 in mice with retinal vein occlusion.
Conclusions. We have described a reproducible murine model of retinal NV. Because of the simplicity, inexpensiveness, and feasibility of genetic manipulations, this murine model is believed to be an advance in investigating molecular mechanisms and anti-angiogenic therapy in retinal NV, due to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and etc. |
