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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model for Ischemic Retinal Diseases in Rodents
Published on: September 16, 2020
[TERT-siRNA inhibits oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization in mice]
Xiao-Jie Min1, Xiao-Guang Dong, Qing-Jun Zhou
1State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shangdong Eye Institute, Qingdao 266071, China.
Objective:
To investigate the inhibitory effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting TERT on murine retinal neovascularization and explore the feasibility of potential therapeutic approach in retinal vascular disease.
Methods:
Two recombinant plasmids TERT siRNA (pSIREN-mTERT-1) and negative plasmid (pSIREN-mTERT-N) were constructed and 80 seven-day-old C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into therapeutic group (A), negative plasmid group (B), oxygen-induced retinopathy group (C) and normal control group (D), 20 mice in each group. Group A, B and C were exposed to 75% +/- 2% oxygen for 5 days and then to room air, which induced mice retinal neovascularization. Groups A and B were injected two kinds of the above recombinant plasmid into the murine vitreous on the 12th day. The mice of group D were raised in normal oxygen circumstance. On the 19th day, 2% Evens blue angiography was used to observe the pattern of the retinal vascular. Expression of TERT mRNA were confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Real-time PCR. Histological observation and vascular endothelial cells counting were used to examine the effects of siRNA on the retinal neovascularization.
Results:
Retinal flat after Evans blue angiography indicated that the vessels of group A formed a fine radial branching pattern, which was similar to normal mice. In group A, the retinal neovascularization reduced and the structure of retina were more regular than group B and C. At the same time the large vessels were distorted, neovascular clusters proliferated and fluorescence leaked in the middle and periphery area in group B and C. RT-PCR and Real-time PCR showed the expression of TERT mRNA was downregulated in group A compared with groups B and C (P < 0.05). Paraffin tissue slice with hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the average counts of vascular endothelial cells which break through the inner limiting membrane in group A were less than groups B and C, the differences were significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Pathologic retinal neovascularization can be inhibited by specific TERT siRNA in vivo, which may be a novel efficient strategy against proliferative vasculopathies.
