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Updated: Jul 17, 2025

Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model for Ischemic Retinal Diseases in Rodents
Published on: September 16, 2020
RhoA/ROCK Signaling Is Involved in Pathological Retinal Neovascularization
Fen Tang1, Kongqian Huang1, Biyan Peng2
1Department of Ophthalmology, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Eye Health and Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Related Systemic Diseases Artificial Intelligence Screening Technology and Institute of Ophthalmic Diseases, Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, China.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the RhoA/ROCK inhibitor Fasudil on retinal neovascularization (NV) in vivo and angiogenesis in vitro.
Methods:
C57BL/6 was used to establish an OIR model. First, RhoA/ROCK expression was first examined and compared between OIR and healthy controls. Then, we evaluated the effect of Fasudil on pathological retinal NV. Whole-mount retinal staining was performed. The percentage of NV area, the number of neovascular tufts (NVT), and branch points (BP) were quantified. Finally, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to investigate the effect of Fasudil on angiogenesis.
Results:
Real-time PCR and Western blotting showed that ROCK expression in retinal tissue was statistically upregulated in OIR. Furthermore, we found that Fasudil attenuated the percentage of NV area, the number of NVT, and BP significantly. In addition, Fasudil could suppress the proliferation and migration of HUVECs induced by VEGF.
Conclusions:
RhoA/ROCK might be involved in the pathogenesis of OIR. And its inhibitor Fasudil could suppress retinal NV in vivo and angiogenesis in vitro. Fasudil may be a potential treatment strategy for retinal vascular diseases.
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