Spontaneous corneal neovascularization in nude mice. Local imbalance between angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors.
OBJECTIVE
The present study considered the hypothesis that spontaneous neovascularization of the cornea of nude mice results from a local imbalance between angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors.


METHODS
The presence of angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors was revealed by exchanging orthotopic corneal allografts between nude BALB/c mice and normal (hirsute) euthymic BALB/c mice and observing the presence, intensity, and degree of corneal neovascularization before and after grafting.


RESULTS
Avascular corneal grafts from normal BALB/c donors resisted neovascularization after grafting to spontaneously vascularized graft beds in nude mice. In contrast, spontaneously vascularized corneal grafts from nude mice remained vascularized over 2 mo after grafting to similar nude recipients. Although corneal grafts from nude donors stimulated neovascularization in normal BALB/c recipients, most of the vessels regressed by the 6th week post transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm that there is an imbalance between angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors in the nude mouse cornea. The cornea of the nude mouse displays more angiogenic activity and less anti-angiogenic activity than that of the normal mouse. Most angiogenic activity of the nude mouse cornea appears to reside in the epithelium.
Kaminska
G M
GM
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9057.
Niederkorn
J Y
JY
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents