ABSTRACT
Background Microvessels are composed of two interacting cell types: endothelial cells and pericytes. Over the past decades, studies of corneal angiogenesis have concentrated mainly on endothelial cells, while interest in pericytes has lagged behind. Objective The present study aimed to investigate the recruitment of vascular endothelial cells and pericytes in rat corneas after alkali burn. Methods Corneal alkali burn models were established in the right eyes of 36 adult SPF SD rats by putting 4 mm medicators containing a 1% 1 mol/L NaOH solution at the central corneas for 30 seconds, and 3 matched normal rats were used as controls. Corneas were excised 1,2,3,5,7 and 10 days after surgery. Frozen sections that parallel with the corneoscleral limbus were constructed. Double immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the dynamic expression of CD31 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in corneal tissue for the evaluation of the number of endothelial cells and pericytes. The pericyte coverage index (PCI) was calculated to quantify the recruitment of pericytes to neovascular sites. The use of experimental animals followed the Statement of Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Results CD31 was expressed in the superficial stromal layer of the cornea on the 1 st day, showing the presence of red fluoresence. The positive cell number for CD31 was gradually increased with the passage of time and proceeded into the deep stromal layer from days 2 through 5 but decreased after that. However,α-SMA was positively expressed on the 2nd day in the cornea after alkali burn with the presence of green fluorescence. The positive cell number for α-SMA was less than those of CD31 throughout the experimental period. The PCI was 0, 16.07%, 11.95%, 43.84%, 73.97% and 86. 21% , respectively, 1,2,3,5,7 and 10 days after surgery. Conclusion Pericytes recruitment to corneal new vessels may play a key role in the stabilization and maturation of angiogeneis.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To explore the skills and characteristics of corneal neovascular model in rat induced by micropocket assay. ·METHODS: Nine eyes of nine Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. Pellets made of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), poly-2-hydroxylethylmethacrylate and sucralfate were implanted into the corneal stroma nocloser than 1mm from the limbus. Biomicroscopic features of corneal neovascular were observed on 1,3, 5, 7th day after the implantation. ·RESULTS: On day 1 after operation, the limbal vessels were dilated, with no angiogenesis appeared. On day 3, angiogenesis began to invade peri-cornea with a brush shape, the area of CNV was (2.23±0.59) mm2. On day 5, new vessels reached the lower margin of pellet densely, the area of CNVwas (6.81±1.35)mm2. On day 7, new vessels continued to elongate, parts of them extended as loops toward the pellet, the area of CNV was (8.92± 1.79)mm2. Neither hyphema or other complications occurred.·CONCLUSION: Corneal neovascular induced by micropocket assay in rat grows steadily, with no complication, and is suitable for quantitative researches.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Corneal neovascular leakage can lead to edema and secondary scarring. Previous studies have shown that pericytes play a key role in maturation of angiogenesis. The present studies investigate the relationship between vascular permeability and pericyte coverage of endothelial cells in rat corneal neovascular induced by alkali burns.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Corneal neovascular vessels induced by alkali burns was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats. Corneas were excised on 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after cauterization. The vascular permeability rate was measured by the Evans blue method. The microvessel pericyte coverage index (MPI) was applied to quantify the pericyte coverage through double immunofluorescent staining of frozen sections of corneas with CD31 as the endothelial and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) as the pericyte markers. The correlation between permeability rate and MPI was analyzed. Pericyte coverage was confirmed ultrastructually using transmission electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The vascular permeability rate was (1.14 +/- 0.17), (0.24 +/- 0.08), (0.29 +/- 0.16), (0.14 +/- 0.10), (0.09 +/- 0.06) and (0.05 +/- 0.04) microg x ml(-1) x mm(-2) respectively on 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after cauterization. The MPI was 0, 16.07%, 11.95%, 43.84%, 73.97% and 86.21% respectively at the above mentioned time points. The correlation coefficient between MPI and the permeability rate was -0.943 (P = 0.005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Pericyte recruitment was significantly correlated with the permeability of corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burns in rats. Therapeutic strategies aiming at anti-leakage should be most effective if they promote pericytes proliferation in the course of corneal neovascularization.</p>