J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2013 Oct;54(10):1588-1593.

Effect of Curcumin in a Mouse Model of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy

• Kim SJ
• Gu YR
• Kim YJ
• Yu HG

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the effect of curcumin, known to inhibit hypoxia-inducible factor-1, on retinal neovascularization in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).
METHODS
OIR was induced by exposing C57BL/6 mice on postnatal day 7 (P7) to 75% hyperoxia for 5 days, followed by 5 days in a room with normal oxygen level. Curcumin was administered intraperitoneally once a day for 5 days from P12 or intravitreally once on P13. Mice retinas on P17 were analyzed for retinal neovascularization, which was compared between curcumin-treated and control mice.
RESULTS
After intraperitoneal and intravitreal administration of curcumin, qualitative assessment of retinal neovascularization of flat-mounted retina showed no significant difference compared to control retinas. Quantitative assessment of retinal neovascularization also showed no significant difference between curcumin-treated and control mice.
CONCLUSIONS
Both intraperitoneal and intravitreal administration of curcumin did not reduce retinal neovascularization in an OIR mouse model. Further investigation including development of new formulations is required for the use of curcumin as an anti-angiogenic agent for retinal neovascularization.

Keyword

Angiogenesis; Curcumin; Oxygen-induced retinopathy; Retinopathy of Prematurity

MeSH Terms

Animals
Curcumin*
Hyperoxia
Mice*
Oxygen
Retina
Retinal Neovascularization
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Curcumin
Oxygen

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. Fluorescence micrographs of flat-mounted retinas from the mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). (A) Control OIR retina treated with intraperitoneal PBS injection. (B) OIR retina treated with intraperitoneal curcumin (100 mg/kg) injection. (C) Control OIR retina treated with intravitreal PBS injection. (D) OIR retina treated with intra- vitreal curcumin (1 μg) injection.

• 

  Figure 2. Quantitative assessment of retinal neovascularization in the mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy treated with intraperitoneal curcumin injection. (A) The average vascular lumens per section for each group are presented as the means ± SEM. Note that there is no significant difference in the retinal neovascularization between the control and curcu- min-treated eyes. Representative photomicrographs of OIR retinas treated with intraperitoneal PBS (B) and intraperitoneal curcumin (100 mg/kg) injection (C).

• 

  Figure 3. Quantitative assessment of retinal neovascularization in the mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy treated with intravitreal curcumin injection. (A) The average vascular lumens per section for each group are presented as the means ± SEM. Note that there is no significant difference in the retinal neovascularization between the control and curcumin treated eyes. Representative photomicrographs of OIR retinas treated with intravitreal PBS (B) and intraperitoneal curcumin (1 μg) injection (C).

Reference

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