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Updated: Jan 24, 2026
Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model for Ischemic Retinal Diseases in Rodents
Published on: September 16, 2020
Systemic Rho-kinase inhibition using fasudil in mice with oxygen-induced retinopathy
Claudia Brockmann1,2, Caitlin Corkhill3, Elzbieta Jaroslawska3,4
1Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Ophthalmology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz, 113353, Berlin, Germany. claudia.brockmann@charite.de.
Purpose:
To investigate the influence of the selective Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, fasudil, on the mRNA level of proinflammatory factors and the retinal vascular development in mice with oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).
Methods:
C57BL/6J mice underwent standard protocol for OIR induction from postnatal days 7 to 12. Subsequently, they received a daily intraperitoneal injection of fasudil or sodium chloride from P12 to P16. Analyses were performed using vascular staining on retinal flat mounts, RNA expression by qPCR, and immunohistochemistry on paraffin sections.
Results:
On retinal flat mounts, the proportion of avascular area and tuft formation did not differ between the fasudil and NaCl group. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a less intense staining with inflammatory markers after fasudil. Nevertheless, there were no differences on RNA level between the two groups.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, our findings support that daily systemic application of fasudil does not decrease retinal neovascularization in rodents with oxygen-induced retinopathy. The results of our study together with the controversial results on the effects of different ROCK inhibitors from the literature makes it apparent that effects of ROCK inhibition are more complex, and further studies are necessary to analyze its potential therapeutic effects.
Insights
Daily fasudil treatment did not reduce retinal neovascularization in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse models. While inflammation markers were reduced, ROCK inhibition
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Vascular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) is a model for neovascular eye diseases.
- Rho-kinase (ROCK) signaling plays a role in vascular development and inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of the ROCK inhibitor fasudil on retinal vascular development and inflammation in a mouse model of OIR.
- To assess fasudil's impact on proinflammatory factor mRNA levels.
Main Methods:
- Mice were subjected to oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).
- Fasudil or saline was administered intraperitoneally from postnatal day 12 to 16.
- Retinal vascularization, inflammation markers (immunohistochemistry), and gene expression (qPCR) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Fasudil treatment did not alter the avascular area or tuft formation in OIR retinas.
- Immunohistochemistry showed reduced inflammatory marker staining in the fasudil group.
- No significant differences in proinflammatory factor mRNA levels were observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- Systemic fasudil administration does not inhibit retinal neovascularization in OIR.
- ROCK inhibition's therapeutic effects in retinopathy are complex and require further investigation.
- More research is needed to understand the role of ROCK inhibitors in treating eye diseases.
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