Suppression of choroidal neovascularization by intramuscular polymer-based gene delivery of vasostatin.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of gene delivery of angiogenesis inhibitor, vasostatin (VS), in suppressing experimental model of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). A mammalian expression vector carrying VS, pCMV3-VS, was constructed and evaluated for its ability to produce VS in transfected cells using western blot analysis and a cell viability assay. CNV was induced in Brown Norway rats by fundus argon laser photocoagulation and evaluated by fundus fluorescein angiography (FAG).

The influence of hypotonicity on large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of hypotonicity on the activity of large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ (BK(Ca)) channels in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE R-50) cells. Effects of hypotonicity on ion currents were investigated with the aid of the patch-clamp technique. A regulatory volume decrease in response to a hypotonic solution (200 mOsm/L) was observed that could be blunted by paxilline.