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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
The Corneal Micropocket Assay: A Model of Angiogenesis in the Mouse Eye
Published on: August 16, 2014
Drug modification of angiogenesis in a rat cornea model
Shulamit Schwartz1, Jacob George, Jeremy Ben-Shoshan
1Department of Ophthalmology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, 6 Weizman Street, Zrifin, Israel.
Purpose:
To evaluate the influence of some widely used antiglaucoma agents on angiogenesis in a novel rat cornea model.
Methods:
Angiogenesis was induced in 32 rats by slow-release polymer pellets containing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) placed in a corneal micropocket. Angiogenesis was later measured and compared in groups of rats given one of four antiglaucoma drug therapies and one control group. The drugs were commercially available preparations of prostaglandins, beta-blockers, alpha-2 agonists, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors given for 7 days in a manner similar to that used in humans. Growth was measured by calculating the maximum linear vessel growth divided by pellet-limbus distance.
Results:
Biomicroscopic observation disclosed that all tested animals showed an induction of neovascular reactions in their corneal stroma. The growth index results for the control, latanoprost, dorzolamide, brimonidine, and timolol malate groups were 1.65 +/- 0.16, 1.98 +/- 0.18, 1.85 +/- 0.19, 2.03 +/- 0.38, and 1.65 +/- 0.14, respectively, confirming the hypothesis that topically delivered antiglaucoma drugs modify the normal angiogenic response. Of them, the prostaglandins showed the most prominent angiogenic stimulatory effect (P = 0.03).
Conclusions:
This modified micropocket assay of corneal angiogenesis in rats demonstrated the stimulatory effect of several widely used topically delivered antiglaucoma medications on the angiogenic process. The results indicate that the selection of drugs for treating different ophthalmic diseases should take into account their influence on angiogenic processes.
Insights
Certain antiglaucoma drugs, particularly prostaglandins, stimulate new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) in the eye. This finding suggests considering a drug
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Angiogenesis research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Glaucoma treatment often involves topical medications.
- The impact of these medications on ocular angiogenesis is not fully understood.
- A novel rat cornea model was developed to study this effect.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the influence of common antiglaucoma agents on angiogenesis.
- To assess the angiogenic potential of prostaglandins, beta-blockers, alpha-2 agonists, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.
- To investigate drug effects in a rat cornea micropocket model.
Main Methods:
- Angiogenesis was induced using basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in rat corneal micropockets.
- Rats received topical antiglaucoma drug therapies (prostaglandins, beta-blockers, alpha-2 agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors) or a control.
- Vessel growth was quantified by measuring linear growth relative to the pellet-limbus distance.
Main Results:
- All tested antiglaucoma drugs induced neovascularization in the corneal stroma.
- Prostaglandins demonstrated the most significant stimulatory effect on angiogenesis (P = 0.03).
- Specific growth indices were recorded for each drug group and the control.
Conclusions:
- Topically applied antiglaucoma medications can stimulate the angiogenic process.
- The choice of antiglaucoma drug may influence ocular angiogenesis.
- Further consideration of angiogenic effects is recommended when selecting ophthalmic treatments.
