Qian Zhang1, Zuo-Ming Zhang2. 1. Department Of Clinical Aerospace Medicine, School of Aerospace Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169(#) ChangLe West Road, Xi'an 710032, China. 2. Department Of Clinical Aerospace Medicine, School of Aerospace Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169(#) ChangLe West Road, Xi'an 710032, China. Electronic address: zhangzm@fmmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
AIMS: It is reported that retinal neovascularization seems to rarely co-exist with retinitis pigmentosa in patients and in some mouse models; however, it is not widely acknowledged as a universal phenomenon in all strains of all animal species. We aimed to further explore this phenomenon with an oxygen-induced retinopathy model in mice with retinal photoreceptor cell degeneration. MAIN METHODS: Oxygen-induced retinopathy of colored and albino mice with rapid retinal degeneration were compared to homologous wild-type mice. The retinas were analyzed using high-molecular-weight FITC-dextran stained flat-mount preparation, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained cross-sections, an immunohistochemical test for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) distribution and Western blotting for VEGF expression after exposure to hyperoxia between postnatal days 17 (P17) and 21. KEY FINDINGS: Leakage and areas of non-perfusion of the retinal blood vessels were alleviated in the retinal degeneration mice. The number of preretinal vascular endothelial cell nuclei in the retinal degeneration mice was smaller than that in the homologous wild-type mice after exposure to hyperoxia (P<0.01). The degree of oxygen-induced retinopathy was positively correlated with the VEGF expression level. However, the VEGF expression level was lower in the retinal degeneration mice. SIGNIFICANCE: Proliferative retinopathy occurred in mice with rapid retinal degeneration, but retinal photoreceptor cell degeneration could partially restrain the retinal neovascularization in this rapid retinal degeneration mouse model.
AIMS: It is reported that retinal neovascularization seems to rarely co-exist with retinitis pigmentosa in patients and in some mouse models; however, it is not widely acknowledged as a universal phenomenon in all strains of all animal species. We aimed to further explore this phenomenon with an oxygen-induced retinopathy model in mice with retinal photoreceptor cell degeneration. MAIN METHODS:Oxygen-induced retinopathy of colored and albino mice with rapid retinal degeneration were compared to homologous wild-type mice. The retinas were analyzed using high-molecular-weight FITC-dextran stained flat-mount preparation, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained cross-sections, an immunohistochemical test for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) distribution and Western blotting for VEGF expression after exposure to hyperoxia between postnatal days 17 (P17) and 21. KEY FINDINGS: Leakage and areas of non-perfusion of the retinal blood vessels were alleviated in the retinal degenerationmice. The number of preretinal vascular endothelial cell nuclei in the retinal degenerationmice was smaller than that in the homologous wild-type mice after exposure to hyperoxia (P<0.01). The degree of oxygen-induced retinopathy was positively correlated with the VEGF expression level. However, the VEGF expression level was lower in the retinal degenerationmice. SIGNIFICANCE: Proliferative retinopathy occurred in mice with rapid retinal degeneration, but retinal photoreceptor cell degeneration could partially restrain the retinal neovascularization in this rapid retinal degenerationmouse model.
Authors: Zhongjie Fu; Ye Sun; Bertan Cakir; Yohei Tomita; Shuo Huang; Zhongxiao Wang; Chi-Hsiu Liu; Steve S Cho; William Britton; Timothy S Kern; David A Antonetti; Ann Hellström; Lois E H Smith Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2020-02-22 Impact factor: 5.923