[Vascular endothelial growth factor promotes experimental choroidal neovascularization in monkey eyes].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in monkey eyes through clinical, morphometric, and histological observations.

METHOD: CNV was induced in both eyes of 6 rhesus monkeys by intense photocoagulation by red krypton laser. Immediately after photocoagulation, 2.5 micrograms of exogenous human VEGF was injected into the vitreous of the left eye in each animal. The right eyes served as controls. The eyes were enucleated 3 days to 12 weeks after photocoagulation and were examined by light and electron microscopy.

RESULTS

VEGF-treated eyes developed remarkable serous retinal detachment around the sites of photocoagulation with manifest CNV one week after photocoagulation. Although there was no difference in the incidence of CNV between the treated and control eyes, the treated eyes showed more intense leakage of fluorescein from the CNVs for up to 4 weeks after treatment. Morphometrically, the CNVs were significantly larger and continued to grow longer in the treated than in the control eyes after one week of photocoagulation. Histologically, newly formed vessels with a distinct lumen were present in the treated eyes after 3 days of photocoagulation.

CONCLUSION

Intravitreal injection of human VEGF promotes experimental choroidal neovascularization in monkey eyes.