title: [Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT‑A) in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT‑A) allows for the non-invasive, three-dimensional visualization of retinal and chorioidal vascular structures. In this study, this new imaging modality was evaluated in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vivo imaging in Dark Agouti rats was performed using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) and OCT‑A (Spectralis prototype, Heidelberg Engineering) after adjusting the length of the reference arm. The OCT‑A en-face images were compared to conventional fluorescein angiography cSLO images. The histological examination allowed for correlation of retinal and chorioidal plexus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While the diagnostic device was developed for use in humans, OCT‑A and cSLO imaging can be applied in rodents after only minor hardware modifications. High-resolution and contrast-enhanced images enable a depth-selective visualization of the three retinal plexus and the inner and outer chorioidal vascular networks. In comparison to fluorescein angiography (FA), OCT‑A is characterized by higher resolution and more accurate three-dimensional localization of vascular structures, particularly in deep layers. A current limitation includes the relatively small area imaged by OCT‑A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recently developed OCT‑A imaging technology also allows for three-dimensional detection of retinal and chorioidal vascular changes in vivo without dye injection in rodents. OCT may potentially replace invasive FA for specific questions and will be useful in animal models for research of retinal and chorioidal angiogenic processes physiologically and during pharmacological interventions.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Deutschland.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Deutschland.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Deutschland.
authors.forename: T U
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Krohne
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Deutschland.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Harmening
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Deutschland.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Holz
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Deutschland. steffen.schmitz-valckenberg@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmitz-Valckenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000662:veterinary*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000662:veterinary*; D051381:Rats; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Fluorescein angiography; In vivo imaging; OCT-angiography; OCT‑A; Rat