title: OCT angiography in the mouse: A novel evaluation method for vascular pathologies of the mouse retina.
abstract: To investigate the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography in the retinas of healthy mice and to evaluate choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a mouse model of laser-induced CNV.
  
  
  
  C57BL/6J mice aged 18-25 weeks were examined using the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device RTVue XR Avanti (Optovue, Inc, Fremont, California, USA). Blood flow in different retinal layers was detected using the split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography algorithm. Fluorescein angiography (FA) images were obtained using the Heidelberg Spectralis device (Heidelberg, Germany).
  
  
  
  Using the RTVue XR Avanti, we were able to obtain high-quality OCT angiography images of normal vasculature in the superficial, deep capillary and choriocapillary layers in laser-treated mice and untreated controls. Whereas no blood flow was detectable in the outer retina of untreated mice, blood flow and hence neovascular vessels were found in laser-treated mice.
  
  
  
  OCT angiography can clearly visualize the normal vascular plexus in the different retinal layers in the mouse retina and choroid. With OCT angiography, it is possible to verify the choroidal neovascularization induced by laser treatment. Thus, OCT angiography is a helpful imaging tool for non-invasive, in vivo evaluation of laser-induced CNV in the mouse.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany; Institute of Experimental Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany. Electronic address: maged.alnawaiseh@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Maged
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alnawaiseh
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany; Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosentreter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hillmann
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Alex
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niekämper
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heiduschka
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pap
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Choroidal neovascularization; In-vivo optical imaging; OCT angiography