Correlation between clinical and histological features in a pig model of choroidal neovascularization

Abstract

In a pig model of surgically induced CNV, histological mapping was used to make clinicopathological correlations of the following lesion components: CNV, window defects, blocked fluorescence. Our findings give a more solid foundation for interpretation of fluorescein angiograms in pig models.

Surgical induction of choroidal neovascularization in a porcine model

“…Histological differences were not identified between membranes induced by RPE removal alone and membranes induced by RPE removal in combination with perforation; accordingly, a structural explanation for the observed difference in the tendency to leak is lacking. The low tendency to leak exhibited by the membranes induced by perforation in combination with RPE removal is in accordance with earlier findings [17,20].…”

“…585005, BD-Ophthalmic Systems, Waltham, USA), in ten eyes Bruch's membrane was perforated with a retinal perforator (ref. 20.01, Synergetics, St. Charles, USA) without prior RPE removal, and in ten eyes RPE removal was followed by perforation of Bruch's membrane. These operations were carried out at a distance from the retinotomi preserving the overlying neuroretina.…”

“…To develop such a model in a human size eye we have previously studied the effect of surgical RPE removal followed by perforation of Bruch's membrane in porcine eyes [17,20]. This model proved itself to be suboptimal because the resulting CNV failed to exhibit leakage on fluorescein angiographic examination.…”

Relationship of Stokes Radius to the Rate of Diffusion across Bruch's Membrane

“…Although the pig BM used was not subject to age-related alterations in composition and structure, such as lipid deposits and thickening, it has a structure and composition similar to those of human BM 21,22 and is a popular model for the study of AMD. 23,24 The flux values we obtained were compared with values obtained by other groups for molecules of similar mass. Hussain et al 11 examined the flux of amino acids ranging from 75.07 to 175.13 Da.…”

A Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Choroidal Neovascularization in a Porcine Model Using Three Targeted Drugs

“…The goal of this in vivo preclinical study was to optimize pharmacodelivery to the macula using a well-documented pig model of CNV. 1–6 AMD is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in those over age 60 from developed countries. 7 Furthermore, neovascular AMD (nAMD) has been effectively managed in many patients by using agents that target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein.…”