Objective To observe the change of diffusion upper limit of macromol ecules through pathological retina and the difference between the layers of retina. Methods Retinal edema was emulated by establishing branch retinal vein occlusion (RVO) model in miniature pig eyes under photodynamic method. Two days later, the retinas of both eyeballs were peeled off. The diffusion test apparatus was designed by ourselves. FITC-dextrans of various molecular weights (4.4, 9.3, 19.6, 38.9, 71.2 and 150 kDa) and Carboxyfluorescein (376 Da) were dissolved in RPMI1640 solutions and diffused through inner or outer surface of retina. The rate of transretinal diffusion was determined with a spectrophotometer. Theoretical maximum size of molecule (MSM) was calculated by extrapolating the trend-linear relationship with the diffusion rate. In separate experiments to determine the sites of barrier to diffusion, FITC-dextrans were applied to either the inner or outer retinal surface, processed as frozen sections, and viewed with a fluores cence microscope. Results FITC-dextrans applying to inner retinal surface, 4.4 kDa dextrans were largely blocked by inner nuclear layer (INL); 19.6,71.2 kDa dextrans were blocked by the nerve fiber layer (NFL) and inner plexiform layer; 15.0 kDa dextrans were blocked by NFL. FITC-dextrans applying to outer retinal surface, most dextrans with various molecular weights were blocked before outer nuclear layer (ONL). No matter applying to the inner or outer surface, Carboxyfluore scein can diffuse through the whole retina and aggregate at INL and ONL. After RVO, the inner part of retina became edema and cystoid, loosing the barrier function. Compared with the normal retina, the MSM in RVO tissues increased (6.5plusmn;0 39nm Vs 6.18plusmn;0.54nm, t=4.143, P=0.0001). Conclusions A fter RVO, the barrier function of inner part of retinal is destroyed and the upper limit of diffusion macromolecule size increased, which is nevertheless limited. ONL acts as bottle-neck barriers to diffusion, if the outer part of retina is damaged, the change of the diffusion upper limit will be prominent. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2008，24：197-201）
Objective
To determine the effect of methimazole (MMI) on retinal vascular development in neonatal rats, and to investigate the relationship between the concentration of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in serum and the development of normal blood vessels and between the concentration of IGF-I and the formation of abnormal blood vessels.
Methods
There were 75 neonatal SpragueDawley rats in experimental group whose mothers were raised with water with 0.1% MMI at the first day of parturition. Another 50 neonatal rats were in the control group whose mothers were raised with normal water. The rats in the two groups were sub-divided into 4day and 10day subgroup, respectively. The retinal flatmount of the right eyes were stained with adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase); with the paraffin section of the left eyes, the number of nucleolus breaking through retinal inner limiting membrane was counted and the retinal blood vessels were evaluated. Serum IGF-I levels were detected by radioimmunoassay, and the weight of the neonatal rats in each group were observed and recorded.
Results
The incidence of retinal neovascularization in 10 day MMI group was 27%, and 0% in 4-day MMI group and control group. The serum IGF-I level in 4-day and 10-day MMI group (73.07 ng/ml, 175.13 ng/ml) was obviously lower than which in the 4-day and 10-day control group (168.73 ng/ml,306.38 ng/ml) （P=0.00）. Obvious slow growth of the neonatal rats was found in MMI group compared with which in the control group.
Conculsions
MMI may inhibit the normal growth of retinal blood vessels and lead neovascularization, which may relate to the initial decrease of the serum IGF-I level.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 198-201)
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of conditional knocking out (KO) vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene on the mouse model of oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR).MethodsThe conditional VEGF KO mice were generated using Cre-Loxp technology, resulting in the deletion of VEGF in a portion of Müller cells permanently in mouse retina. Cre positive was CKO mice, Cre negative was NKO mice. OIR was induced by keeping mice in 75% oxygen at postnatal 7 days (P7) to P12 and in room air from P12 to P17 (each 20 mice for CKO and NKO, respectively). The mice mortality was analyzed. At day P17, the percentage of retinal avascular area was calculated using retinal flat-mounting with fluorescence angiography, the number of vascular endothelial cell nucleus breaking through retinal inner limiting membrane was counted with hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining of retinal sections, and the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) was detected by immunofluorescence analysis. ResultsDuring the development of OIR, the mortality rate of CKO mice (65.00%) was higher than that of NKO mice (30.00%) with the significant difference (x2=4.912, P=0.027). At day P17, all the mice retinas were harvested. The retinal fluorescence angiography displayed that the normal retinal vascularization of CKO mice was delayed, and large avascular areas were observed. Meanwhile, rare new vascular plexus was found in CKO mice and the thickness of whole retina decreased dramatically. In contrast, NKO mice developed larger area of normal retinal vascular network structure with higher blood vessel density and more new vascular plexus with obvious fluorescein leakage. The percentage of avascular area in CKO mice [(28.31±11.15)%] was higher than NKO mice [(16.82±7.23)%] with the significant difference (t=2.734, P=0.014). The HE staining of retinal sections indicated smaller counts of vascular endothelial cell nucleus breaking through retinal inner limiting membrane in CKO mice (26.10±6.37) when compared to NKO mice (28.80±7.59) , the difference was significant (t=2.437, P=0.016). The immunofluorescence analysis showed stronger expression of HIF-1α in CKO mice than NKO mice, which was mainly located in the retinal ganglion cell layer.ConclusionsThe local VEGF gene knockout partially inhibits retinal neovascularization in OIR mice. However, it also suppresses the normal retinal blood vascular development with a decrease of OIR mice survival ability.
Objective To explore the effect of oxygen inhalation on the retinae of newborn rats and its mechanism.Methods We mimicked the retinopathy of prematurity(ROP) by putting the newborn rats in high concentrated oxygen. One-day old rats were put into the oxygen box with the oxygen concentration of 80% for continuous 7 days; then in air condition for 7 days. The arterial blood oxygen pressure, retinal superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) of the rats (1,2,4,7,8,9,11,14 days old) were examined. The diameter of retinal vessels′main branch and the coverage rate of peripheral vessels were measured in 7- and 14-day-old rats by ink perfusion. The retinal neovascularization of rats (8,9,11, 14 days old) were observed by HE staining. The rats of the same age fed in air condition were in the control group.Results The differential pressures of blood oxygen of rats (1,2,4,7 days old) in study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.01), while the differential pressures of blood oxygen of rats (8,9,11,14 days old) in study group were lower than those in the control group (P＞0.05). The contents of SOD of the retinae in the rats ( 1,2,4,7,8 days old) were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.01, P＜0.05 ), while the contents of MDA were significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.01,P＜0.05). The diameter of retinal vessels′main branch in 7-day rats was 75% of the control group, and the coverage rate of peripheral vessels was 22% of the control group; and was 61% and 73% respectively in 14-day-old rats. The neovascularization could be seen in 16.7% of the rats in the study group and nought in the control group.Conclusion The damage of free radical of the retina in high concentrated oxygen and hypoxia situation after oxygen supply may be one of the most important mechanism of ROP. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：269-332)
Objective
To investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the barrier function of retinal peigment epithelium (RPE) and to detect the pathological mechanism of retinal detachment (RD) induced by over expression of HGF in RPE.
Methods
Sub-retina injection of E1/E3deleted adenoviral vectors encoding HGF (Ad CMV.HGF) and green fluorescent protein (Ad CMV.GFP) in adult pigmented rabbits [5times;104 plaque-forming units (pfu)/eye] to set up the model of retinal detachment. The ocular fundus and pathological changes were observed 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after injection. The expression level of HGF in retina and vitreous body was detected by immunohistochemistry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results
In the control eyes injected with AdCMV.GFP, expression of GFP only detected in RPE monolayer. The eyes injected with AdCMV.HGF had b HGF immune positive action in RPE cells at the injection site. The expression level of HGF in vitreous body reached the peak 7 days after injection and decreased to the basic level 28 days after injection. Chronic RD and chronic choroidal inflammation were found in the eyes injected with AdCMV.HGF within the time frame of HGF expression. Proliferative RPE cells were found in subretinal space in the region of RD, and multilayered cellular membranes developed in some eyes.
Conclusion
Over expression of HGF in RPE may induce chronic serous RD with subretinal proliferation of RPE, which suggests that HGF should be further studied as a target for therapeutic intervention in RD.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 193-197)
Objective To investigate the response of retinal ganglion cells （RGC）in detached and reattached retina in adult rats, and the effect of IL-1beta antibody and IL-1Ra on the loss of RGC. Methods A total of 73 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subretinally injected with healon GV（1.4% hyaluronate）and retrograde labeled with fluorogold (FG), and 10 ng IL-1 Ra and 500 ng IL-1beta antibody were injected into the subretinal space combined with healon GV. The retinal flakes were observed under the fluoroscope and the number of RGC was counted 2 hours, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20, 50, and 90 days after deta chment; 10 days after detachment and 30 days after reattachement; 90 days after detachment and 20 days after reattachement, and 1 and 10 days after injection with IL-1beta antibody and IL-1Ra,respectively. And the control group was only developed an intraocular injection of the same valume of healon GV. Result Two hours after detachment, the RGC loss was found, reached the peak at first day, and decreased gradually. RGC loss was also found in the non-detached area. The reattachment 10 days after detachment (early reattachment) stopped the loss of RGC, and the reattachment 90 days after detachment (late reattachment) promoted the loss, which rested on a certain level. Subretinal space injection of IL-1Ra and IL-1beta antibody decreased the loss of RGCs in the detached retina. Conclusion The RGCs loss were found both in the detached and attached retina. Early reattachment may stop the loss of RGC, and late reattachment may promote the loss. Both IL-1beta antibody and IL-1Ra have neuro protective effect on RGC. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：233-236)
Objective To observe the inhibitory effect of Bevacizumab on retinal neovascularization in oxygen-induced retinopathy in the mouse. Methods 90 one-week-old C57B L/6J mice were divided into four groups at random. 15 mice in the 1st group as normal control group, 15 mice in the 2nd group as oxygen control group, 30 mice in the 3rd group as high-dose Bevacizumab treatment group, 30 mice in the 4th group as low-dose Bevacizumab treatment group. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups were exposed to 75% oxygen for 5 days and then to room air. At the 12th day, One eye of each mouse of two control groups were received an intravitreal injection with Be vacizumab at 2 mu;l、1 mu;l respectively, and the same volume of BSS was injected into the other eye of the mice. The adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) histochemical technique was used for retinal flat mount to assess the oxygen-induced change s of retinal vessels. The number of the endothelium cell nuclei of proliferative neovascularization was quantified by retinal microtome chromoscopy. Real-time PCR analysis was performed to examine the expression of VEGF mRNA. Results Comparing with oxygen control group, regular distributions, reduced density of retina l vascular and reduced endothelium cell nuclei which extending retinal membrane were observed in the treatment groups(P＜0.001). But the differences between two treatment groups are not statistically significant (P＞0.05). The expression of VEGF mRNA was not significantly different in oxygen control group whatever it whether accepted Bevacizumab treatment or high or low dose (P＞0.05). Conclusion Intravitreal injection with Bevacizumab can effectively inhibits the retinal neova scularization in oxygen-induced retinopathy in the mouse. Intravitreal injection with Bevacizumab might become to the new method to treat retinopathy of premature. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2008，24：184-188）
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on recuperate of optic nerve after contusion by clamping in adult rabbits.
MethodsSixteen adult rabbits were randomly divided into NGF and the control group with 8 rabbits in each group. After the optic nerve of the right eyes was clamped，tissue engineering nerve containing 0.06 ml NGF（concentration: 5×10-4 g/L, NGF group） and 0.06 ml of PBS (control group) was immediately transplanted into the injured eyes respectively, and 0.02 ml NGF（concentration: 5×10-4 g/L, NGF group）and 0.02 ml of PBS (control group) were injected into the vitreous of right eyes respectively. Flash visual evoked potential (FVEP) test was performed on the eyes 1 day, 2 weeks and 8 weeks after the injury. The number of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and changes of optic nerves were observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy at the 8th week after contusion,and a computer-image-analysis system was used to count the optic nerve axons.ResultsThe ratio of amplitude of FVEP of the injured and healthy eyes was 0.765±0.150 in NGF group and 0.494±0.108 in the control at the 2th week after injury with a significant difference between the two groups (Plt;0.05); and was 0.581±0.138 and 0.409±0.119 respectively at the 8th week after contusion with statistical difference between the two groups (Plt;0.05). The results of light microscopy and electron microscopy showed that degeneration of RGCs and optic nerves in the NGF group was lighter than that in the control group 8 weeks after injury, while the amount of optic nerve axons was (10 955±608.7) axons/ mm2 in the NGF group and (7 898±608.8) axons/mm2 in the control with statistical difference between the two groups (Plt;0.05).
ConclusionNGF may redound to the survival of RGCs and regeneration of the axons in some degree, which can promote the recuperation of optic nerve and visual function. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:253-257)
Objective To determine whether kringle 4-5 could inhibit choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice induced by argon laser photocoagulat ion. Methods Fundus laser photocoagulation was performed on C57BL/6J mice to induce CNV. In treatment group, 20 μg (low dosage group) and 50 μg (high dosage group) kringle 4-5 were injected retrobulbarly after photocoagulation. In control group, equilibrium liquid was injected retrobulbarly. Choroidal neovascularization was evaluated on the 7th and 14th day after photocoagulation by fundus fluorescein ang iography. The mice were killed on the 14th day after photocoagulation, the lesions were evaluated histologically and immunohistochemically, and the expression of CD105 was detected. The Expression of VEGF and bFGF was detected by immunohist ochemistry on the 4th day after photocoagulation.Results The incidence of CNV was 64.3% in control group, 51.2%（P＜0.05）in low dosage group, and 44. 1% (P＜0.01) in high dosage group. The CNV lesions were smaller in kringle 4-5 injected eyes in a dose-dependent manner and the number of proliferative vascular endothelial cells in the subretinal membrane of the treated eyes was smaller than that of the control eyes. There was no significant difference of the expression of VEGF and bFGF between the mice in control and treatment group.Conclus ions Kringle 4-5 could inhibit the development of choroidal neovascularization in the experimental mice model.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：201-268)
ObjectiveTo evaluate the protective effect of estrogen on survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after transient retinal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR) in rats.MethodsRIR was induced in 60 ovariectomized adult rats (OVX) by increasing intraocular pressure via an intracameral catheter. All of the rats were divided into two groups randomly: in experimental group, the rats underwent a subcutaneous injection with 17β-estrodiol（100 μg/kg） 2 hours before retinal ischemia; and in the control group, saline water was injected correspondingly. The number of RGCs and the thickness of the inner retinal layers were mesured by HE staining method before and 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after reperfusion. TdT-mediated biotin-dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining technique was used to examine the apoptosis of RGCs.ResultsTwenty-four and 48 hours after reperfusion, the number of apoptotic cells in experimental group was obvious lower than that in the control group(Plt;0.05), and the number of RGCs in experimental group was higher than that in the control group(Plt;0.05).ConclusionEstrogen can protect retinal neurons from transient RIR in ovariectomized rats.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:177-179)
