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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
A Mouse Model for Laser-induced Choroidal Neovascularization
Published on: December 27, 2015
Octreotide inhibits choroidal neovascularization in rats
Yi Qu1, Shuihua Zhang, Xiaoyi Xu
1Department of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Aims:
Octreotide exhibits anti-angiogenic activity in animal models of retinopathy of prematurity and in clinical cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In this study, we tested the applicability of using octreotide for inhibiting experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rats.
Methods:
Of 15 adult rats used, 3 served as non-laser-treated controls. CNV was induced in the right eye of the remaining 12 rats by laser photocoagulation. These 12 rats were divided into two groups (n = 6 each) which were retrobulbarly injected with octreotide (50 miucrog/kg) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (0.15 ml) immediately and on day 3 after the first injection. Fluorescein angiography and quantitative analysis of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroidal flat mounts were performed 14 days after the operation to evaluate the changes in the CNV lesions. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to compare the changes shown by the octreotide-, PBS-, and non-laser-treated rats (n = 3 each) with regard to mRNA levels of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 in the RPE-choroidal complex.
Results:
Octreotide treatment significantly inhibited fluorescein leakage and the extent of neovascularization as was observed in the flat mounts of choroidal tissue derived from the rats with induced CNV. The VEGF and IGF-1 mRNA levels were reduced following treatment with octreotide.
Conclusion:
The retrobulbar administration of octreotide may be an effective new therapeutic strategy for CNV.
Insights
Octreotide effectively inhibited choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and reduced key growth factor mRNA levels in a rat model. This suggests octreotide may be a promising new therapy for CNV.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Angiogenesis Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Octreotide demonstrates anti-angiogenic properties in preclinical and clinical studies.
- Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a significant cause of vision loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of octreotide in inhibiting experimental CNV in a rat model.
- To assess the impact of octreotide on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 mRNA levels.
Main Methods:
- CNV was induced in rats via laser photocoagulation.
- Rats received retrobulbar injections of octreotide or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).
- Fluorescein angiography, RPE-choroidal flat mount analysis, and qRT-PCR were performed.
Main Results:
- Octreotide treatment significantly reduced fluorescein leakage and the extent of CNV.
- VEGF and IGF-1 mRNA levels were decreased in the octreotide-treated group.
- Quantitative analysis confirmed reduced neovascularization in the octreotide group.
Conclusions:
- Retrobulbar administration of octreotide showed efficacy in inhibiting experimental CNV.
- Octreotide represents a potential novel therapeutic strategy for treating CNV.
