Inhibitory Effect of YC–1 on Experimental Choroidal Neovascularization in Rat

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To evaluate the effects of YC–1[3–(5'–hydroxymethyl–2'–furyl)–1–benzylindazole], one of the hypoxia–inducible factor–1 (HIF –1) inhibitor, on laser–induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in rats. Methods: Thirty female Brown–Norway rats underwent laser photocoagulation to induce CNV, and then twenty rats were treated with intraperitoneal YC–1 (3mg/kg) for two weeks. For controls, ten rats were sham–treated with DMSO. Fundus photography and fluorescein angiography were performed at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after laser.The expression of HIF–1 and VEGF at CNV was evaluated with immunohistochemistry. The size of the CNV was histologically quantified. Results: The expressions of both HIF–1 and VEGF were increased at the photocoagulation–induced CNV, but decreased in rats treated with YC–1. Treatment with YC–1 decreased the size of CNV by 60 %, compared to controls. No systemic toxicity of YC–1 was found in this study. Conclusions: These results suggest that YC–1 suppresses the development of experimental CNV by inhibiting the HIF–1 expression at the photocoagulation site.

Keywords: choroid: neovascularization • drug toxicity/drug effects • microscopy: light/fluorescence/immunohistochemistry