Abstract:

Objective To compare two methods of choroid flat mounts in quantitative study for experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Design Experimental study. Participants Brown-Norway (BN) rats. Methods Normal 24 BN rats were randomly divided into two groups equally and CNV models were induced by laser photocoagulation with the same diameter spot. Choroid flat mounts were performed with fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-D) perfusion method or isolectin method at 1 week(W), 2W, and 4W after photocoagulation respectively. The photo of choroid flat mounts was taken under laser confocal microscope and the area of CNV was measured with Image J software. The experimental time was recorded form the start of anaesthesia to the end of choroid flat mounts. The expense of one choroid flat mount was calculated by the dose of FITC-D or lectin consumed in the experiment. Main Outcome Measures Area of CNV, experimental time and expense. Results At 1W, 2W, and 4W after photocoagulation, the areas (μm2) of CNV by FITC-D perfusion method or isolectin method were 5524±1847, 50653±7265, 121623±7128 or 14560±4508, 144209±8411, 204066±8546 respectively. The experimental time by two different methods was 119±21min or 390±34min respectively, while the experimental expense was 289±26.3￥ or 32±4.2￥ respectively. Conclusion There were obvious differences in the area of CNV, experimental time and expense between the 2 methods of choroid flat mounts. The appropriate method of choroid flat mounts for experimental CNV should be carefully selected according to the research purposes. （Ophthalmol CHN， 2019, 28： 120-124）

Key words:  choroidal neovascularization, animal model, choroid flat mounts, area