title: The corneal micropocket assay: a model of angiogenesis in the mouse eye.
abstract: The mouse corneal micropocket assay is a robust and quantitative in vivo assay for evaluating angiogenesis. By using standardized slow-release pellets containing specific growth factors that trigger blood vessel growth throughout the naturally avascular cornea, angiogenesis can be measured and quantified. In this assay the angiogenic response is generated over the course of several days, depending on the type and dose of growth factor used. The induction of neovascularization is commonly triggered by either basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). By combining these growth factors with sucralfate and hydron (poly-HEMA (poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate))) and casting the mixture into pellets, they can be surgically implanted in the mouse eye. These uniform pellets slowly-release the growth factors over five or six days (bFGF or VEGF respectively) enabling sufficient angiogenic response required for vessel area quantification using a slit lamp. This assay can be used for different applications, including the evaluation of angiogenic modulator drugs or treatments as well as comparison between different genetic backgrounds affecting angiogenesis. A skilled investigator after practicing this assay can implant a pellet in less than 5 min per eye.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Birsner
authors.affiliation: Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
authors.forename: Ofra
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Benny
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital; Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School; robert.damato@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: D'Amato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000737:chemistry; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; D013392:Sucralfate