title: The Rabbit Corneal Pocket Assay.
abstract: The rabbit corneal micropocket angiogenesis assay uses the avascular cornea as a substrate canvas to study angiogenesis in vivo. Through the use of standardized slow-release pellets, a predictable angiogenic response is generated over the course of 1-2 weeks and then quantified. Uniform slow-release pellets are prepared by mixing purified angiogenic growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor or vascular endothelial growth factor and a synthetic polymer to allow slow release. A micropocket is surgically created in the rabbit cornea under anesthesia and a pellet implanted. On the days later, the angiogenic response is measured and qualified using a slit lamp, as well as the concomitant vascular phenotype or inflammatory features. The results of the assay are used to assess the ability of potential therapeutic molecules to modulate angiogenesis in vivo, both when released locally or given by ocular formulations or through systemic treatment. In this chapter, the experimental details of the rabbit cornea assay and technical implementations to the original protocol are described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morbidelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy. ziche@unisi.it.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziche
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D011817:Rabbits; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
keywords: Angiogenesis; Angiogenic factors; Capillary; Drug treatment; Endothelial cell; Slow release