[The inhibitory effects of FK228 on retinal neovascularization].

Objective: To explore the inhibitory effects of FK228 on retinal neovascularization.

Methods: One-week-old C57BL/6J mice were put into the environment with 75% oxygen for 5 days to establish models of vascular proliferation retinopathy. These mice were divided into normal control, high oxygen control and treatment groups (One eye of each mouse received an intravitreal injection of 250 ng of FK228, and the same volume of DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) was injected into the other eye of the mice both in these two groups as a control). The ADPase histochemical straining was used for retinal flatmount to observe changes of retinal vessels. The inhibitory effects of FK228 on retinal neovascularization were evaluated by counting the endotheliocyte nuclei of new vessels extending from retina to vitreous in the tissue-slice.

Results: Disorganized distribution and high density of retinal vessels and retinal neovascularization of 17-day-old mice in the high oxygen control; regular distributions and reduced density of retinal blood vessels in eyes in the treatment group were found in retinal flatmount. The number of the endotheliocyte nLlclei of new vessels extending from retina to vitreous was less in the eyes in the treatment group than which in control group (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: Retinal neovascularization can be inhibited by intravitreal injection of FK228 which suggest that intravitreal injection of FK228 may have potential therapeutic benefits in retinal vascular disease.