title: Lack of effect of gender on retinopathy in the mouse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reported effect of gender on retinopathy of prematurity has been controversial. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of gender on oxygen-induced retinopathy in a mouse model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oxygen-induced retinopathy was produced in C57BL6 mice by exposure to 75% oxygen from postnatal day (P) 7 for 5 days. Animals were returned to room air on P12 and killed on P17-21. Gender was determined by inspection. Retinopathy was evaluated by a retinopathy scoring system and by quantifcation of extraretinal neovascular nuclei on retinal sections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both males and females developed similar degrees of retinopathy. Males had a median total retinopathy score of 9 (25th, 75th quartile: 8, 11) and females had score of 9 (25th, 75th quartile: 7, 10). Retinal subscores of blood vessel growth, blood vessel tufts, extraretinal neovascularzation, haemorrhage and blood vessel tortuosity were similar in both groups. Males and females had a similar number of neovascular nuclei on retinal sections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender does not alter the development of oxygen-induced retinopathy in the C57BL6 mouse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Georgetown University Children's Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. higginrd@georgetown.edu
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tadesse
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yossuck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003911:Dextrans; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006801:Humans; D018496:Hyperoxia / Q000150:complications; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010100:Oxygen / Q000633:toxicity; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D005452:Fluoresceins; C052526:fluorescein-dextran; D010100:Oxygen