Disease models

Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy

In 1994, Smith and colleagues described a robust and reproducible mouse hyperoxia model of proliferative retinal neovascularization to mimic retinal angiopathies. In 1994, Penn et al. introduced a model that produced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)-like pathology in rats, using alternating hypoxia and hyperoxia.

At Experimentica, we have implemented and validated both mouse and rat OIR models with a clinically relevant reference compound making them ideal for screening anti-angiogenic drug candidates. Our capabilities include morphological analysis of retinal vasculature from flat mounts, combined with in vivo imaging, such as fluorescein angiography (FA) and flash electroretinography (ERG).

Technical details

Animal species

Mouse, rat

Method of induction

Exposure to hyperoxia (mouse) or alternating hyperoxia and hypoxia (rat) during retinal vasculature development

Follow-up period

Induction P7-P12, tissue collection P17 (mouse)
Induction P0-P14, tissue collection P20 (rat)

Route of test article administration

Systemic, intravitreal injection

Readouts

In vivo imaging (FA, rat model)
Functional assessment (ERG, rat model)
Analysis of retinal vasculature from isolectin B4 stained flat mounts:
– Avascular area/vascular obliteration
– Area of neovascularization

Scientific excellence in every model

A robust basis to screen for the efficacy of anti-angiogenic test articles in the eye.

Non-invasive in vivo imaging techniques and high-quality tissue samples to detect efficacy

Data analysis utilizing cutting-edge AI technology provides accurate and unbiased results

References

Smith LE, et al., Oxygen-induced retinopathy in the mouse. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1994. 35(1): p. 101-11.

Penn, J., Henry, M. & Tolman, B. Exposure to Alternating Hypoxia and Hyperoxia Causes Severe Proliferative Retinopathy in the Newborn Rat. Pediatr Res 36, 724–731 (1994).

Vähätupa M, Hakkarainen JJ, Kaja S, Uusitalo H, Järvinen TA, Uusitalo-Järvinen H, Kalesnykas G (2018) Aflibercept inhibits physiological revascularization and pathological neovascularization in the mouse and rat oxygen-induced retinopathy models. Poster presentation at EVER 2018 conference.

Vähätupa M, Jääskeläinen N, Cerrada-Gimenez M, Thapa R, Järvinen T, Kalesnykas G, Uusitalo-Järvinen H. Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model for Ischemic Retinal Diseases in Rodents. J Vis Exp. 2020 Sep 16;(163). doi: 10.3791/61482. PMID: 33016936.