May 2007
Volume 48, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2007
Zebrafish: A New Animal Model for Identifying Drugs That Inhibit Choroidal Neovascularization
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • L. Zhong
    Phylonix Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • P. McGrath
    Phylonix Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • W. Seng
    Phylonix Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships L. Zhong, Phylonix Pharmaceuticals Inc., E; P. McGrath, Phylonix Pharmaceuticals Inc., E; W. Seng, Phylonix Pharmaceuticals Inc., E.
  • Footnotes
    Support NIH Grant 1R43EY015601-01
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2007, Vol.48, 1462. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      L. Zhong, P. McGrath, W. Seng; Zebrafish: A New Animal Model for Identifying Drugs That Inhibit Choroidal Neovascularization. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2007;48(13):1462.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose:: We propose to use zebrafish as an animal model to identify drugs that inhibit Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV). The architecture of the zebrafish eye is strikingly similar to the human eye. In recent research, using a low concentration of CoCl2 (0.1mg/ml), we induced hypoxia in the zebrafish eye and observed abnormal vessel growth specifically in the choroidal region, similar to the CNV phenotype present in humans.

Methods:: Under normal conditions, zebrafish do not have vessels in the retina. To induce abnormal CNV, we incubated day 1 zebrafish with 0.1 mg/ml of CoCl2 for 4 days. Next, we detected abnormal vessel growth in the choroidal and retinal layers of the zebrafish eye using Phy-V (Phylonix, Cambridge, MA), a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that specifically stains activated endothelial cells in nascent vessels. To further characterize our CNV model and to investigate whether abnormal vessels penetrate the retina, we used immunohistochemistry to stain new vessels in the eye. Using RT-PCR and in situ hybridization, we then confirmed that the mechanism of abnormal neovascularization was related to CoCl2 induction of HIF-1 and VEGF. We developed an ELISA assay "eZ-CNVTM" to quantitate level of angiogenesis and we used this assay format to assess effects of three antiangiogenic compounds: Celebrex, Genistein and SU5416.

Results:: After treatment with CoCl2, zebrafish exhibited abnormal vessels in the retina, edema, and photoreceptor degeneration, similar to the phenotypes presented in human CNV. Results of RT-PCR and in situ hybridization demonstrate that the mechanism of abnormal neovascularization was related to CoCl2 induction of HIF-1 and VEGF, underscoring the similarity of CNV mechanisms in zebrafish and mammals. Celebrex, Genistein and SU5416 all inhibited CNV in a dose-dependant manner.

Conclusions:: The zebrafish CNV model and the eZ-CNVTM ELISA assay can be used to identify potential antiangiogenic drug candidates.

Keywords: choroid: neovascularization • drug toxicity/drug effects • retinal neovascularization 
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×