Clinical and histopathologic features of canine oxygen-induced proliferative retinopathy.

PURPOSE: In previous studies the morphologic features of the acute vaso-obliterative and vasoproliferative stages of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) were quantified and described in the dog model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). In the present study the sequelae of these events were examined using fluorescein angiography and histologic, enzyme, and immunohistochemical techniques.

METHODS: Thirty newborn animals were exposed to 95% to 100% oxygen for 4 days and returned to room air until they were 22 to 45 days of age. Before death some animals were anesthetized, and fluorescein angiography was performed. Retina and vitreous from some animals were processed for adenosine diphosphatase (ADPase) flat-embedding. In other cases, eyes were prepared for full-thickness eyewall sectioning or frozen for histochemical analysis.

RESULTS: Fluorescein angiography, funduscopic examination, and ADPase preparations showed dilated and tortuous retinal vessels, pigmentary changes, incomplete vascularization of peripheral retina, vitreous hemorrhage, and persistence of massive intravitreal neovascularization. Full-thickness eyewall sections showed tractional retinal folds, tented intravitreal vascularized membranes, and vitreous synchysis. Immunohistochemical analysis showed inner retinal astrogliosis. Enzyme histochemistry showed high alpha glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity in poorly differentiated neovascular formations and low activity in formations with mature pericytes and endothelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS: End-stage OIR in the neonatal dog shares many features with the chronic human disease. These results provide additional support for the use of this model in experimental studies of ROP.