Development of an Experimental Model of Proliferative Retinopathy by Intravitreal Injection of VEGF165

Abstract

This pilot study of a neovascularization model using intravitreal injection of VEGF165 in pigmented rabbits showed that both doses of 10 and 20 μg were successful and effective in inducing vascular growth in the retina and anterior segment and can therefore be used for evaluating drug efficacy in future studies.

Experimental Models to Study Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

“…Several groups have also performed intravitreal injections of biologically active compounds such as dispase [76,129], TGF-β [70], VEGF [80,81], recombinant human IL-1β [87], xanthine and xanthine oxidase [82], to induce inflammatory and proliferative reactions and prompt PVR development. Dispase is an easily accessible enzyme that induces histological changes in the retina with very few side effects [76].…”

Intravitreal Injections of Melanocortin Receptor 1, 5 Agonists Prevents Neovascularization in a VEGF165 Mouse Model of Retinopathy

“…C57BL/6 mice (Harlan, Italy) aged 7 to 10 weeks were housed in standard cages with 24-hours light-dark cycle, humidity and temperature automatically controlled. C57BL/6 mice were divided into 2 settings: the first setting was composed of 2 groups (n = 12 animals per group), treated respectively with sham intravitreous injections of 5μl balanced saline (0.1 ml) and 5μl intravitreal injection of VEGF165 (10μg, Sigma-Aldrich, Italy) [10,11] on day 0. The two groups were monitored by FAG in order to ascertain the time course of the vascular modifications.…”

“…Tropicamide (5%) was instilled into the right eye of each animal, in order to induce papillary dilation, and tetracaine (1%) was topically applied for local anaesthesia. Physiological saline, VEGF165 or MC receptor agonists (5 μL volume) were injected intravitreally into the right eye using sterile syringes fitted with a 30-gauge needle (Microfine; Becton Dickinson AG, Meylan, France), as previously described [10,11,18]. Briefly, a transconjunctival 30-gauge, 1.5-mm needle was introduced behind the limbus in the superior temporal quadrant.…”

“…Instead, VEGF-C and -D are involved in the modulation of cell adhesion and cell migration and in extracellular matrix degradation; VEGF-B and PIGF are involved in lymphangiogenesis [7]; VEGF-A promotes the process of neovascularization and increased vascular permeability. In particular, VEGF164(165) isoform is primarily implicated in the pathogenesis of major eye diseases that recognize ocular ischemia as a prime mover [8][9][10][11].…”

Histopathological study of the effect of sunitinib in treatment of retinal angiogenesis induced by VEGF 165 in rabbits’eyes

“…Lyophilized VEGF-165 was dissolved in 5ml solution of sterile, freshly prepared PBS and 0.1% human plasma albumin then stored at 2-8C 0 until administration of solution of VEGF -165 within 7dayes as illustrated in data sheet from R and D system company. 0.1ml of VEGF165 injected intravitreally to the right eyes of rabbit at 3.5-4.0 mm behind the limbus [27,28] , through specific syringe after anesthetized with intramuscular injection of ketamin 25mg/kg and xylasin 5mg/kg. After 1 week, the rabbits were sacrificed, and their eyes were enucleated, then stored in 10% formalin for histological study.…”