title: Effect of flavone on the ocular blood flow and formation of choroidal neovascularization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of flavone on ocular blood flow in rabbit eyes and the formation of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rat model of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In in vivo studies, colored microsphere technique was used to determine the ocular blood flow in ocular hypertensive rabbit eyes. The rat eyes were treated with 0.5% flavone eye drops 3 times a day for 1 week before and 4 weeks after laser-induced injury of Bruch's membrane. The development of CNV was determined by fluorescein angiography (FA) performed on the 2nd and 4th after injury. In in vitro studies, the effect of flavone on the viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells HUVECs was measured by MTT assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ocular blood flow in rabbit eyes was significantly increased after flavone instillation. Flavone significantly inhibited the formation of laser induced CNV. In vitro results showed that flavone inhibited the proliferation of HUVECs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flavone could increase ocular blood flow and inhibit the formation of CNV.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ocular Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: George C Y
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Chiou