The vasoneuronal effects of AT1 receptor blockade in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity

KM Hatzopoulos; KA Vessey; JL Wilkinson-Berka; EL Fletcher

Journal article

The vasoneuronal effects of AT1 receptor blockade in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurity

KM Hatzopoulos, KA Vessey, JL Wilkinson-Berka, EL Fletcher

Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science | Published : 2014

DOI: 10.1167/iovs.13-13532

Abstract

PURPOSE. Retinal angiogenesis, neural dysfunction, and microglial activation occur in both humans with retinopathy of prematurity and in animal models of the disease. The aim of this study was to assess whether blockade of the renin-angiotensin system ameliorated these effects in rats with oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR). METHODS. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 80% oxygen from birth to postnatal day (P)11 and were then placed in normal air until experimentation at P18, while control animals remained in normal air. Control and OIR rats were treated with the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1 receptor) antagonist, valsartan (4, 10, or 40 mg/kg daily, intraperitoneally). Retinal functi..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Kate Hatzopoulos Author

Kirstan Vessey Author

Jenny Wilkinson-Berka Author

Erica Fletcher Author

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Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia

Funding Acknowledgements

Supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, #566815 and #1038220 to (ELF) and a Senior Research Fellowship of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (JW-B).