J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2002 Mar;43(3):589-598.

Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor after Laser Induced Retinal Vein Occlusion in the Rat Eye

• Kim YJ
• Oh JH
• Han JA
• Cho HK

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) on VEGF expression and the ultrastructural change of the various ocular tissues in the rat.
METHODS
Sprauge Dawley rats were grouped into RVO group induced with argon laser (n=30) and control (n=10). The ocular tissues of the rats were collected on the first, third and seventh day after RVO. VEGF expression was evaluated with immunohistochemical stain, and the ultrastructural changes were observed with electron microscopy.
RESULTS
In control group, VEGF stain was positive in various ocular tissues except outer nuclear cells. In RVO group, VEGF expression had gradual increase in the inner nuclear layer, the retinal pigment epithelia and the ciliary body epithelia after RVO. Especially, in the retinal pigment epithelia, VEGF was significantly increased on the seventh day. In electron microscopic examination, degenerative changes had gradual increase in the inner and middle retinal layers after RVO. The degenerative changes in the retinal pigment epithelia were noted on the third day, and in the retinal photoreceptor cells on the seventh day.
CONCLUSIONS
These results showed that VEGF expressions in the inner nuclear layer, retinal pigment epithelia and ciliary body epithelia had a gradual increase, and the ischemic damages of the retina and the optic nerve progressed from the inner layer to the outer layer after RVO.

Keyword

VEGF immunohistochemical stain; Electron microscopic ultrastructural changes; Retinal vein occlusion

MeSH Terms

Animals
Argon
Ciliary Body
Microscopy, Electron
Optic Nerve
Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate
Rats*
Retina
Retinal Vein Occlusion*
Retinal Vein*
Retinaldehyde*
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Argon
Retinaldehyde
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A