title: In-vivo investigation of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in rat using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the in-vivo formation process of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rat using high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and compared the results to histological methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brown Norway rats (n = 60, 6-8 weeks of age) received 532-nm diode laser photocoagulation. SD-OCT and fluorescein angiography (FA) were performed in vivo 2, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days post-laser application. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry for CD31, phosphorylated vascular endothelial factor receptor 2 (pVEGFR2) were conducted at each time point to observe the CNV in vitro. Choroidal flatmount preparations were observed using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  SD-OCT monitored the longitudinal morphological changes of laser-induced CNV. CNV reached its maximal size on day 7, and began a gradual reduction on day 14. FA revealed similar dynamic changes in leakage. CNV thickness, as assessed by SD-OCT, was consistent with H&E-stained sections at each time point. CLSM and SEM revealed the details of the fibrovascular membrane. CD31 and pVEGFR2 expression supported the results of SD-OCT and histology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SD-OCT was a convenient and reliable tool for the imaging of the CNV formation process and quantification of the lesion size in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Institute of Chinese PLA, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Yu-sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian-qiang
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing-bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Jian-kang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xue-mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Wei-hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002829:Choroid / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2