J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2000 Jul;41(7):1473-1478.

The Role of VEGF and Bruch's Membrane in the Development Choroidal Neovascularization

• Kwak NH
• Yoo JS
• Huh W

Abstract

A major cause of blindness in elderly people is choroidal neovascularizapathogenesis and stimulating factor of CNV is not clearly understood. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)is a major stimulating factor for retinal neovascularization in ischemic retinopathy such as diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity. But it is not known if VEGF is a stimulating factor for CNV. In this study, we have treated VEGF transgenic mice and C57BL/6 mice with laser. Different laser parameter for damage to retina pigment epithelium(RPE)only and for break of Bruch's membrane were used each. We were not able to induce CNV with only RPE damage. CNV wes induced when the break of Bruch's membrane was made and there was profuse CNV in VEGF transgenic mice rather than C57BL/6. These data suggest that the damage of Bruch's membrane may be the prerequisition for CNV formation and VEGF is the important stimulating factor for CNV.

Keyword

Bruch's membrane; Choroidal neovascularization(CNV); Vas-cular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)

MeSH Terms

Aged
Animals
Blindness
Bruch Membrane*
Choroid*
Choroidal Neovascularization*
Diabetic Retinopathy
Humans
Mice
Mice, Transgenic
Retina
Retinal Neovascularization
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A