Retinal Neovascular Disorders: Mouse Models for Drug Development Studies

Neovascularization is a hallmark of several eye diseases leading to visual impairment, and its epidemiological impact is substantial (Lee et al. 1998). In retinal degenerative disease models, neovascularization is the process by which the choroid and/or retina become infiltrated with new blood vessels. In retinal neovascularization (RNV), sprouting retinal vessels penetrate the inner limiting membrane (ILM) and grow into the vitreous, and in some cases, grow through the avascular outer retina into the subretinal space (Campochiaro 2000). Numerous clinical and ­experimental observations indicate that ischemia (or hypoxia) is the driving force behind RNV (Michaelson and Steedman 1949). Occlusion of retinal vessels leading to ischemia is a feature of diseases with RNV, including diabetic retinopathy (DR) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (Campochiaro 2000)