[Retinal pigment epithelial cells contribute to maturation and fenestration of the vascular endothelial cells in vascular endothelial growth factor-transgenic mice].
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the role of the retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) in subretinal neovascularization during maturation and fenestration of endothelial cells in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) transgenic mice.


METHODS
VEGF transgenic mice were given an intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg of sodium iodate (treated) or physiological saline (controls) on postnatal day 10. Fluorescein angiography (FAG) was carried out and the mice were sacrificed on postnatal day 31. The eyes were removed and processed for light and electron microscopy.


RESULTS
FAG showed leakage from neovascularization in both groups, but there were fewer leakages in the treated group than in the control group. Electron microscopy showed subretinal neovascularization in both groups, but there were fewer fenestrations and less maturity of endothelial cells in the new vessels of mice in the treated group. In the treated mice, damaged RPE cells did not completely enclose new vessels and the endothelial cells were immature.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that RPE cells promote endothelial cell maturation and formation of fenestrations in VEGF-induced subretinal neovascularization.
Ida
Hisashi
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Kansai Medical University, Japan.
Tobe
Takao
T
Uyama
Masanobu
M
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A