[Mouse models of diabetic retinopathy: systematic review of the literature]

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. A variety of species of animals have been used to investigate the pathogenesis of DR. However, the mouse model of diabetic retinopathy, which is an attractive model due to the genetic modifications which can be carried out, remains underutilized. In order to explain this discrepancy, we performed a review of the literature concerning various mouse models of diabetic retinopathy so as to define their advantages and disadvantages.

We carried out a literature review using PubMed. We selected articles describing models of DR with pericyte loss, retinal capillary abnormalities and hyperglycemia. Articles not meeting these three criteria were excluded.

Out of 25 articles, we found seven models of DR. For each of these models, we report the method of induction of DR and the electrophysiological and histopathological features.

Models obtained through genetic manipulation appear the most interesting, since the diabetes and its complications present early without additional physiologic modifications. However, since these models differ frequently by sex, this is an important parameter that must be taken into account.