Development of a new mouse model of branch retinal vein occlusion and retinal neovascularization.
OBJECTIVE
Retinal neovascularization (NV) is associated with various disorders, such as retinal vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity, and often causes severe loss of vision. To determine the mechanism of retinal NV and develop new therapy, we developed a mouse model using a photodynamic method.


METHODS
C57BL/6 mice were injected with rose bengal via the tail vein, and then selected venous points were photocoagulated.


RESULTS
All eyes demonstrated venous occlusion on day 1, and capillary nonperfusion areas were observed until day 3. Twenty of 33 eyes (60.6%) developed retinal NV on day 14, confirmed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-perfused retinal flat-mounts and immunochemical and histopathological analyses. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction showed an increase in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor at the retina on day 7.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the simplicity, low cost, and feasibility of genetic manipulations, our model is believed to represent an advance in investigating molecular mechanisms and establishing therapy for retinal NV.
Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Han
H
Zhang
Koh-Hei
KH
Sonoda
Hong
H
Qiao
Toru
T
Oshima
Toshio
T
Hisatomi
Tatsuro
T
Ishibashi
D000818:Animals; D003911:Dextrans; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012395:Rose Bengal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D003911:Dextrans; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C015219:fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran; D012395:Rose Bengal; D012313:RNA; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate