Proliferative activity of retinal vascular cells in newborn rat at different oxygenation modes

We evaluated the relationship between the percentage of oxygen in inhaled air and alternation of this parameter and proliferative activity of cells in retinal vessels of normal newborn rats. The relationships between these parameters and the mean diameter of retinal vessels were evaluated. The study was carried out on total retinal preparations and tangential sections of the retina by the immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescent methods. Hypoxia and hyperoxia significantly suppressed proliferative activity, while alternation of hyperoxia and normoxia significantly increased both proliferative activity of vascular cells and the mean diameter of retinal vessels.