HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (10) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Liu, K. Articles by Fulton, A. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Liu, K. Articles by Fulton, A. B.

The Retinal Vasculature and Function of the Neural Retina in a Rat Model of Retinopathy of Prematurity

From the Department of Ophthalmology, Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

PURPOSE. In a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), the retinal vasculature and function of the neural retina were studied longitudinally. Vascular and neural parameters were evaluated for significant relationships.

METHODS. Retinopathy was induced by exposing newborn rats to alternating 50% and 10% oxygen until age 14 days. To evaluate the function of the neural retina, electroretinographic (ERG) responses to full-field stimuli were recorded from dark-adapted rats at ages 18 and 31 days. Sensitivity and saturated amplitude of photoreceptor and postreceptor activity were derived from ERG a- and b- waves. To evaluate the retinal vasculature, digital fundus photographs were obtained at the same ages, and the tortuosity indices of the arterioles (TI_A) and venules (TI_V) were calculated. ROP rats and room-air–raised control animals were compared. Vascular and response parameters were evaluated for significant relationships.

RESULTS. In ROP rats, TI_A was high at 18 days and decreased in every rat to nearly normal levels by 31 days. TI_V was less affected by ROP or age. Deficits in all receptor and post-receptor response parameters were present in 18-day-old ROP rats. Post-receptor sensitivity recovered completely by 31 days. Deficits in other response parameters persisted. No significant correlations between vascular and ERG parameters were found in 18-day-old ROP rats.

CONCLUSIONS. Noninvasive, longitudinal measures in this model of ROP showed significant abnormalities in both the retinal vasculature and function of the neural retina that were most marked at age 18 days. However, vascular and neural abnormalities did not correlate.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Byfield, S. Budd, and M. E. Hartnett The Role of Supplemental Oxygen and JAK/STAT Signaling in Intravitreous Neovascularization in a ROP Rat Model Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., July 1, 2009; 50(7): 3360 - 3365. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Hartnett, D. Martiniuk, G. Byfield, P. Geisen, G. Zeng, and V. L. Bautch Neutralizing VEGF Decreases Tortuosity and Alters Endothelial Cell Division Orientation in Arterioles and Veins in a Rat Model of ROP: Relevance to Plus Disease Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., July 1, 2008; 49(7): 3107 - 3114. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. B. Fulton, R. M. Hansen, and A. Moskowitz The Cone Electroretinogram in Retinopathy of Prematurity Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., February 1, 2008; 49(2): 814 - 819. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Dorfman, O. Dembinska, S. Chemtob, and P. Lachapelle Early Manifestations of Postnatal Hyperoxia on the Retinal Structure and Function of the Neonatal Rat Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2008; 49(1): 458 - 466. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Akula, J. A. Mocko, A. Moskowitz, R. M. Hansen, and A. B. Fulton The Oscillatory Potentials of the Dark-Adapted Electroretinogram in Retinopathy of Prematurity Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., December 1, 2007; 48(12): 5788 - 5797. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Berkowitz, R. Roberts, J. S. Penn, and M. Gradianu High-Resolution Manganese-Enhanced MRI of Experimental Retinopathy of Prematurity Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., October 1, 2007; 48(10): 4733 - 4740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Barnaby, R. M. Hansen, A. Moskowitz, and A. B. Fulton Development of Scotopic Visual Thresholds in Retinopathy of Prematurity Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., October 1, 2007; 48(10): 4854 - 4860. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Akula, R. M. Hansen, M. E. Martinez-Perez, and A. B. Fulton Rod Photoreceptor Function Predicts Blood Vessel Abnormality in Retinopathy of Prematurity Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., September 1, 2007; 48(9): 4351 - 4359. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. R. Laposa, E. J. Huang, and J. E. Cleaver Increased apoptosis, p53 up-regulation, and cerebellar neuronal degeneration in repair-deficient Cockayne syndrome mice PNAS, January 23, 2007; 104(4): 1389 - 1394. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Liu, J. D. Akula, R. M. Hansen, A. Moskowitz, M. S. Kleinman, and A. B. Fulton Development of the Electroretinographic Oscillatory Potentials in Normal and ROP Rats Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., December 1, 2006; 47(12): 5447 - 5452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]