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Updated: May 10, 2026
10:32
Monitoring Dynamic Growth of Retinal Vessels in Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Mouse Model
Published on: April 2, 2021
Retinopathy of prematurity
Ann Hellström1, Lois E H Smith, Olaf Dammann
1Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
Lancet (London, England)
|June 21, 2013
Summary
Retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants stems from disrupted retinal neurovascular growth. Optimizing oxygen, nutrition, and key factors like insulin-like growth factor 1 can prevent severe vision loss.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Immature retinas of preterm neonates are vulnerable to insults disrupting neurovascular growth.
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) involves arrested vascularization (phase 1) and subsequent hypoxic-driven neovascularization (phase 2).
- Controlled oxygen reduces but doesn't eliminate ROP, necessitating identification of other contributing factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors contributing to retinopathy of prematurity development.
- To explore strategies for preventing severe, sight-threatening ROP and its comorbidities.
- To promote normal retinal neurovascular development in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on retinopathy of prematurity pathogenesis.
- Analysis of the roles of hyperoxia, maternal-fetal interaction, hypoxia, and growth factors.
- Discussion of preventative strategies including oxygen, nutrition, and specific factor normalization.
Main Results:
- Hyperoxia and disrupted maternal-fetal interaction arrest retinal vascularization.
- Hypoxia in poorly vascularized retinas stimulates pathological vasoproliferation.
- ROP pathogenesis is multifactorial, involving growth factors, oxygen, nutrition, infection, and inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Preventing severe ROP requires controlling factors beyond oxygen, including nutrition and essential growth factors.
- Optimizing insulin-like growth factor 1 and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is crucial.
- Curbing infection and inflammation supports normal neurovascular development and limits ROP progression.
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