Effect of light on oxygen-induced retinopathy in the mouse.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect lf light on retinal neovascularization and vasculogenesis in a reproducible and quantifiable model of oxygen-induced proliferative retinopathy in the mouse.


METHODS
C57Bl/6J mice were reared in room air, 68% oxygen, or 75% oxygen and were exposed to darkness, low cyclical light (200-350 lux), or high-intensity continuous light (3000-4500 lux). The entire retinal vascular pattern was visualized in fluorescein-dextran perfused flat-mount preparations. Proliferative retinopathy was quantified by counting neovascular nuclei in 6 microns cross-sections of whole eyes.


RESULTS
Light exposure did not exacerbate the proliferative retinopathy that was seen after 68% oxygen exposure, which induced a meager proliferative response, nor after 75% oxygen exposure, which induced an exuberant proliferative response. In room air, retinas from all three illumination groups had normal vascular patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
In this model of oxygen-induced retinopathy, under the conditions tested, light neither exacerbated the hyperoxia-induced neovascularization nor affected normal retinal vascular development.
Wesolowski
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Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Smith
L E
LE
D000818:Animals; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D003911:Dextrans; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008027:Light; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010477:Perfusion; D011897:Random Allocation; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D003911:Dextrans; D005452:Fluoresceins; C052526:fluorescein-dextran