Involvement of purinergic P2 receptors in experimental retinal neovascularization.

Purpose: The present study was aimed to investigate the expression of purinergic P2 receptors in oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to study the expression of purinergic P2Y2 and P2X2 receptors in the neonatal mouse retina during normal vascular development and after oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). The effect of the P2 antagonists, suramin and PPADS, on the extent of oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization was analyzed.

Retinal vascular development and pathologic retinal angiogenesis are not impaired in matrix metalloproteinase-2 deficient mice.

Purpose: Earlier studies have suggested a role for metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in retinal angiogenesis. To investigate this further, we have studied retinal vascular development and pathologic ischemia-induced retinal angiogenesis in MMP-2-deficient and wild-type mice.

Methods: Vascular development of the retina was studied in retinal flatmounts, whereas pathologic retinal angiogenesis was analyzed in retinal flatmounts and on histologic sections using a model of ischemia-induced retinopathy.

Reduced choroidal neovascular membrane formation in matrix metalloproteinase-2-deficient mice.

Purpose: Findings in studies have suggested a role for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in angiogenesis, including choroidal neovascularization (CNV). To investigate further, the current study was conducted to observe the formation of experimental CNV in MMP-2-deficient mice.

Methods: CNV was induced in wild-type and MMP-2-deficient mice by krypton laser photocoagulation of the fundus.