Revisiting the mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy

History of the mouse model of OIR

Initial clinical observations

The first case reports of retrolental fibroplasia, now known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), were written by Theodore L Terry in the early 1940s, who described several abnormalities in the ocular vasculature of infants born prematurely, the cause of which was unknown.^1,2 Around this time, clinical studies by Wilson et al found improved respiration in preterm babies when given high concentrations of oxygen,³ and so the use of supplemental oxygen therapy for premature neonates became increasingly routine and widespread in the 1950s.⁴ Concurrent with this rise in the liberal use of oxygen therapy in the neonatal setting, however, came a well-documented increase in the incidence of ROP.^4–7 Thaddeus S Szewczyk was one of the first physicians to make the connection between oxygen and ROP from his clinical observations of changes in ROP disease pattern with changes in oxygen concentration administered.^8,9 However, an intense controversy developed as to how oxygen could cause ROP. This debate could be divided into four general views: anoxia, toxic effects of high oxygen, relative anoxia following high oxygen administration, and factors unrelated to oxygen.¹⁰ These clinical observations and the ensuing debates sparked research in the early 1950s to further explore the role of oxygen in ROP using various animal models.

Initial animal studies of the retinal vasculature

Decades before the initial oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) experiments in the 1950s, researchers were aware that the retina has a relatively higher rate of respiration and anaerobic glycolysis than most other tissues, and that developing retinas exhibit higher oxygen consumption than mature retinas.¹¹ Normal retinal vascular development was thoroughly studied in humans, rats, and cats by Michaelson in the 1940s, who found that vascular growth and patterning was overall similar among the different animals.¹² In light of these earlier findings and clinical observations of ROP, Ashton et al were among the first to explore the effect of changing oxygen concentrations on retinal vascular development in animals, using kittens given their close resemblance to human infants in terms of retinal vascular development.¹³ By varying the onset, duration, and concentration of oxygen exposure in newborn kittens, they were able to characterize two phases of OIR (“vaso-obliterative” and “vaso-proliferative”) that closely mimic the early stages of ROP.¹⁰ Despite the close approximation of this early kitten model of OIR to human ROP, obtaining adequate sample sizes to thoroughly assess a range of experimental variables posed a significant challenge, as noted by the authors at the time.^10,14

Early murine models of OIR

The pathologic changes in the mouse retina exposed to hyperoxic conditions that resembled human ROP (eg, hemorrhages, retinal folding, fibrovascular changes in the vitreous body) were first noted around the same time as Ashton’s studies in kittens.^15,16 Given the persistent discussion over the pathophysiology of ROP, many of the early experiments focused heavily on exploring the effects of low oxygen on retinal vascular development. Such experiments helped to disprove the theory that hypoxia was the sole driver of the pathologic retinal neovascularization (NV) seen in ROP and helped to establish hyperoxia as a key inciting factor.^10,14,16 Subsequent studies in mice reproduced the pathologic ocular findings seen in ROP, albeit to varying degrees and under differing experimental conditions.^11,17 Although this variability prevented definitive conclusions or extrapolations, these early attempts to generate OIR in mice provided insights that would ultimately prove valuable to the model used today.

Gyllensten and Hellström were the first to document and consistently utilize a specific mouse strain for their OIR experiments in order to minimize the frequency of spontaneous eye anomalies that could complicate their results.¹⁴ Interestingly, the strain they selected, C57Bl/6 mice, is one of the most commonly used strains for OIR studies today. Though most preliminary mouse studies involved high oxygen exposure at birth, Gerschman et al studied mice put in high oxygen at different times during their first week of life,¹¹ which would prove to be an important distinction given the dramatic changes in the mouse retinal vasculature with each day of development.¹⁷ Further investigations into mouse retinal vascular development noted an inverse relationship between hyaloid and retinal vessel growth: hyaloid vessels are present at birth but regress over time, while retinal vessels are nearly absent at birth but proliferate almost fully by the first week of life.¹⁷ This is a particularly critical observation, since early studies noted dilation and proliferation of hyaloid vessels during hyperoxia^16–18 but were unable to distinguish this hyaloidopathy from true retinopathy,¹⁹ which may have contributed to the often conflicting results produced by various research groups.

Subsequent advances leading to the current mouse model of OIR

There was a relative paucity of new work on the mouse model of ROP in the few decades following the 1950s.²⁰ Although Ashton’s and Patz’s animal models of OIR were generally considered to be the most reliable for studying retinal NV,²¹ there were still considerable discrepancies in OIR reproducibility.²⁰ For instance, several groups disagreed on the threshold of oxygen exposure that was needed to trigger retinopathy: OIR was observed in kittens with 40% oxygen,¹⁰ but in mice, 70% oxygen was insufficient,²² and retinopathy was only observed at 80% oxygen.¹⁶ These observations led to the generalization that OIR can only be reliably reproduced at near complete oxygen saturation.²⁰ Further compounding the establishment of a standardized mouse OIR model was the lack of a uniform method to assess the severity of retinopathy, which was likely due in part to technological barriers.

Several advancements, from improved retinal vascular imaging to a better understanding of angiogenesis, set the stage for establishing a more rigorous and reliable mouse model of OIR. The advent in 1961 of fluorescein angiography for retinal vascular imaging by Novotny allowed for better visualization of smaller retinal vessels as well as in vivo retinal imaging.^23,24 Lectin staining, which uses carbohydrate-binding proteins and is the most frequently used technique today for mouse OIR, was first advanced by Blanks and Johnson in the 1980s, who demonstrated that lectins selectively label retinal vasculature in developing mice.²⁵ Further studies confirmed the superiority of fluorescein and lectin staining in visualizing retinal vessels during mouse development.²⁶ Refinements to fluorescein staining, such as labeling dextrans with high-molecular weight fluorescein, minimized contrast leakage and allowed for better visualization of the entire rodent retina at higher resolutions compared to India ink, which was most widely used in the OIR experiments of the 1950s.²⁷

In the early 1970s, Folkman et al reported that ocular NV was triggered by tumor implants in the cornea²⁸; this indirectly demonstrated the existence of angiogenic factors and effectively established the field of angiogenesis. This was a particularly significant discovery, since Michaelson and Ashton first postulated the existence of a “vaso-proliferative factor” responsible for the NV seen in ROP decades earlier.^10,12,21 Another critical finding was the identification²⁹ and partial purification³⁰ of a retinal substance isolated from different animals that stimulated in vitro endothelial cell growth, which was the first direct evidence of angiogenic activity in the mammalian retina.²¹ This discovery marked a major transition in research, from focusing on speculations and theories of retinal angiogenic activity to identifying specific angiogenic factors and mechanisms. Thus, these pioneering studies^30,31 inspired further research into retinal angiogenesis,²¹ primarily in mice, given their rapid and proliferative breeding patterns.²⁰

Despite the scarcity of new literature on mouse OIR from the late 1950s to early 1990s, a few critical refinements in experimental techniques and understanding were made during this time frame. As researchers gradually came to better understand the pathophysiology underlying the two phases of OIR, mouse studies demonstrated that NV was most pronounced after newborn pups were put in hyperoxia for 5 days and then put in normoxia for 5 days.³² This resembles the time course of oxygen exposure in the current mouse OIR model that maximizes NV, albeit using an earlier onset of hyperoxia exposure. Researchers had also noted that the extent of vaso-obliteration during phase 1 of OIR was positively correlated with the likelihood of developing NV during phase 2 of OIR.²¹ This observation now serves as the basis for therapeutic strategies that indirectly reduce retinal NV by minimizing early vaso-obliteration. Although there was no consensus regarding an optimal method to assess the severity of retinopathy in mice,²⁰ a systematic grading system was established in the kitten model that assessed retinal flatmounts using four categories: extent of vessel growth, vessel pattern, degree of peri-arteriolar capillary free zone, and degree of capillary tuft formation.³³ Some researchers felt that the small size of the mouse pup retina posed a challenge for successful retinal flatmounts, and that alternative approaches should be pursued, such as manually counting vitreous capillaries in histological cross sections that passed through the optic nerve.²⁰ Ultimately, research by Smith et al greatly improved the quantitative assessment of OIR changes by distinguishing hyaloidopathy from retinopathy,¹⁹ but quantifying NV continues to remain a challenge, as evidenced by the variety of approaches in the past 20 years.^34–36 The challenges of quantification are explored in further detail later in this review.

Essential concepts of OIR

Comparison of human and murine retinal vascular development

There are several key differences between human and murine retinal developmental angiogenesis that allow the mouse model of OIR to adequately reflect human ROP. One major distinction is the temporal nature of retinal angiogenesis. Whereas development begins relatively early in human fetal development, it occurs postnatally in mice.^36,37 As a result, human infants born at term possess fully mature retinal vessels, while newborn mice have immature vascular development similar to that seen in premature humans infants.³⁸ Fortunately, murine retinal vessel growth progresses in a rapid, predictable, and tightly regulated manner,^36,39 with near-complete extension of the superficial vascular plexus achieved within a week (with some variability among different mouse strains).⁴⁰ This difference allows for the study and manipulation of retinal vasculature patterning, thereby providing a suitable model for human ROP, which is triggered by subjecting immature retinal vessels to relative hyperoxia at birth.

As mentioned earlier, ROP classically progresses in two phases: initial vaso-obliteration of immature vessels followed by pathological NV during the subsequent vascular repair phase. Granted, advancements in our understanding of ROP pathophysiology have led to the updated notion that phase 1 of ROP reflects more of a delay in retinal vascular development with modest vaso-obliteration in most cases.³⁷ Nevertheless, vaso-obliteration and NV remain the hallmarks of ROP, with the two processes temporally and pathophysiologically linked. The mouse model of OIR consistently reproduces these two key features over the span of 3 weeks with the advantage of genetic manipulation.^19,34,36 Additionally, the mouse OIR model exhibits spontaneous regression of the new vessels in the late stages of phase 2, which is consistent with the spontaneous involution seen in many cases of human ROP.⁴¹ An in-depth comparison of human and murine retinal angiogenesis is provided in the review by Stahl et al.³⁶

Current mouse model of OIR

The model developed by Smith et al,¹⁹ coupled with the method of quantifying vaso-obliteration and pathological NV established by Connor et al,³⁴ is widely regarded as the current standard for OIR experiments in mice. In this model (Figure 1), mouse litters (C57Bl/6 mice are the most widely utilized) are placed in 75% oxygen at postnatal day (P)7, when there is an optimal balance between hyaloid vessel regression and immature retinal vasculature to allow visualization of subsequent NV.^19,32 The hyperoxic conditions mimic the relative hyperoxia that premature human infants are exposed to at birth; thus, P7–P12 defines phase 1 of OIR, during which immature vessels regress (Figure 1B).³⁴ Regarding the kinetics of phase 1 of OIR, the majority of the vaso-obliteration occurs within the first 48 hours of high oxygen exposure.^34,42 Vessel regrowth has been observed as early as P9, while the mice are still in hyperoxic conditions^42,43; this may be a response to increasing nutritional demands of the developing retina in the setting of marked vessel loss.^36,44 The transfer of mice to room air at P12 results in hypoxia in the regions of vaso-obliteration that stimulates pro-angiogenic factors.³⁶ This is discussed in further detail in the next section. Vessel growth induced by these angiogenic factors includes regrowth of normal vessels into areas of vaso-obliteration and pathological NV at the junction of avascular and vascularized retina (Figure 2). These processes occur simultaneously but to varying degrees depending on factors such as time course⁴⁵ and extent of vessel regression during phase 1^21,36; however, the mechanisms that govern normal versus pathological vessel growth are still poorly understood.⁴⁵

Figure 1 Murine retinal vascular changes during OIR. Notes: (A) Graphic representation of retinal vasculature at the microscopic level (superior image) and in microscopic cross section (inferior image) in a healthy C57Bl/6 mouse at P7 under normal conditions. Mice are normally born with avascular retinas, allowing for full observation of vascular growth postnatally. By P7, the superficial vascular plexus (ie, epiretinal vascular network) almost fully extends across the peripheral retina, and vessels begin to develop orthogonal to the retinal surface, eventually forming the intermediate and deep vascular plexus (ie, intraretinal vascular network). Full vascular maturation is usually achieved around P21–P25 in C57Bl/6 mice. (B) Depiction of vaso-obliteration during phase 1 of OIR, when mice are exposed to 75% oxygen from P7 to P12. An important distinction is that vaso-obliteration in mice occurs in the central retina, in contrast to the peripheral vaso-obliteration seen in the rat OIR model and in human ROP. During this high oxygen exposure, VEGF production is suppressed in the relatively hyperoxic central retina, resulting in vascular loss. Of note, progression of vaso-obliteration is most rapid within the first 48 hours of high oxygen exposure. (C) Upon transfer from high oxygen exposure to room air at P12, the central avascular retina experiences relative ischemia, especially given the nutritional demands of the growing retina. As a result, VEGF is produced in this ischemic zone, which activates downstream effector molecules that lead to the characteristic neovascular tufts seen in phase 2 of OIR. Neovessels primarily form at the junction of the vascular and avascular zones, with peak neovessel density reached by P17 in C57Bl/6 mice, as depicted here. (D) Depiction of the vascular repair process, where spontaneous neovessel regression coincides with waning pro-angiogenic factors and normal revascularization. This repair process is essentially complete by P25. Abbreviations: OIR, oxygen-induced retinopathy; P, postnatal day; ROP, retinopathy of prematurity; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.

Figure 2 Control and OIR flatmounts at murine P17. Notes: In this composite image, retinal flatmounts from C57Bl/6 mice at P17 under normal (left) and OIR (right) conditions were stained with isolectin B4 to label the vasculature (white). Normally, as seen on the left, retinal vessels branch radially from the optic disk in a uniform pattern across the entire retina. In contrast, P17 OIR mouse retinas possess extensive central vaso-obliteration with pathologic neovessels forming around the junction of the vascular and avascular zones, as evidenced by the dense, circular lectin-stained clusters seen on the right. These leaky, unorganized tufts often extend into the vitreous and reach peak density at P17, which is when neovascularization is typically assessed. Abbreviations: OIR, oxygen-induced retinopathy; P, postnatal day.

There has been some variability in how NV is assessed and quantified, as we explore later in this review, but retinal NV is generally defined as an unorganized configuration of leaky, small-caliber vessels (ie, preretinal tufts) located anterior to normal retinal vessels with frequent extension into the vitreal space (Figure 1C).^21,36 NV, which develops beginning at P12 with rapid proliferation starting at P14 and peak density at P17,^19,42 is the hallmark of phase 2 of OIR and the primary factor responsible for vision impairment. As vascular repair continues and levels of pro-angiogenic factors wane, NV begins to regress after P17 with almost complete resolution and replacement by normal vasculature by P25 (Figure 1D),³⁶ reflecting an inverse trend between normal revascularization and NV.⁴⁵ Although retinas can be harvested for analysis at any point during OIR, studies of phase 1 generally assess vaso-obliteration at P8 or P12, while NV is typically examined at P17.³⁶ A comprehensive protocol by Connor et al provides detailed instructions on experimental setup, sample collection, data analysis, and troubleshooting.³⁴

Role of angiogenic factors

Through various animal models of NV, researchers have uncovered a vast array of molecular pathways that govern developmental and pathological retinal angiogenesis. Among these, the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been the most extensively studied, and VEGF is considered one of the most important mediators in this context. Initially identified as a modulator of vessel permeability,^46,47 VEGF is a family of polypeptides produced as multiple isoforms that act via tyrosine kinase receptors.⁴⁸ As researchers began to explore the functions of VEGF in the eye in the 1990s, it became increasingly evident that VEGF was likely the elusive “vaso-proliferative factor” initially posited by Michaelson and Ashton almost half a century earlier.⁴⁸ The role of VEGF in ocular angiogenesis was initially demonstrated using a model of photocoagulation-induced ischemia in nonhuman primates. These studies revealed that ischemia-induced VEGF production in the retina is clearly associated with increased ocular NV and vascular permeability in vivo.^49,50 Expanding on this work, Pierce et al explored the role of VEGF using the mouse OIR model, further strengthening the notion that VEGF induces pathologic retinal NV.⁵¹ Stone et al demonstrated that VEGF expression is essential in normal retinal vascular development, and that high oxygen levels suppress VEGF production, thus inhibiting vessel growth and leading to the regression of nascent immature vessels.⁵² Subsequently, Aiello et al showed that inhibition of VEGF suppresses murine retinal NV in vivo.⁵³ Taken together, these findings formed the basis for the development of anti-VEGF therapies that are now the mainstay for the treatment of choroidal NV in wet age-related macular degeneration.³⁶

Within the OIR model, retinal VEGF expression predictably correlates with disease progression. High oxygen exposure during phase 1 suppresses retinal VEGF levels and results in central retinal vaso-obliteration.^36,54,55 Upon return to room air, hypoxia in the central retina leads to the upregulation of VEGF, primarily by retinal glial cells, which in turn leads to the NV that is characteristic of phase 2.^36,51,54 The mechanisms that distinguish pathologic from developmental retinal angiogenesis are not fully understood, although it is clear that VEGF activity is vital to both processes.^52,54 Independent of VEGF activity, the alternative complement pathway, a key component of innate immunity, has recently been shown to aid in the clearance of pathologic NV without damaging normal retinal vasculature.⁵⁶ Normally, retinal vessels express inhibitors of the complement system that prevent their clearance. However, a downregulation of complement inhibitors was observed exclusively on pathologic neovessels during phase 2 of OIR, thus allowing for their targeted removal by the alternative complement pathway.⁵⁶ Another important consideration is that specific VEGF isoforms have different roles in angiogenesis⁵⁷; murine VEGF164, which is analogous to human VEGF165, is the predominant isoform in the retina.^53,56 In addition, different angiogenic responses have been observed in OIR models depending on the type of VEGF receptor activated³⁶; it is thought that VEGF receptor-1 is involved in vascular permeability and chemotaxis, while VEGF receptor-2 is important for the survival and proliferation of endothelial cells.⁵⁸ Finally, it is important to note that VEGF is just one of many angiogenic factors that have been implicated in OIR; other factors, including erythropoietin⁵⁹ and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, explored later in this review),⁶⁰ and omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids⁶¹ play notable roles as well.

Limitations of the mouse model of OIR

Strain and litter differences in OIR phenotype

Despite the improved reproducibility and widespread adoption of the mouse model of OIR, several important factors can result in considerable variability in the OIR phenotype if not addressed. Among these, strain-dependent variability has been a longstanding issue. Indeed, strain-dependent differences have plagued the use of the rat OIR model and may have been an obstacle to the widespread adoption of the model.⁶² Many of the mouse OIR studies in the 1950s did not specify the strain type, and we now know that this partially contributed to the divergent results among research groups. Gyllensten and Hellström were among the first to explicitly emphasize the importance of the consistent use of a single mouse strain, C57Bl/6, given its low frequency of spontaneous eye abnormalities.¹⁴ Through advances in our understanding of angiogenesis and progress in genetic techniques, it has been shown that there is considerable genetic heterogeneity in ocular angiogenesis in different strains of mice, both in response to exogenous angiogenic factors⁶³ and in the resting vasculature.⁶⁴ In terms of OIR, strain-dependent differences have been observed in the context of light exposure⁶⁵ and expression of angiogenic factors.⁶⁶ Interestingly, C57Bl/6 mice were found to have increased photoreceptor vulnerability to oxygen stress compared to the BALB/cJ mouse strain,⁶⁵ and lower levels of angiogenesis compared to 129S3/SyIM mice.⁶⁶ Even when accounting for strain-dependent differences in OIR susceptibility, variability is still observed in strains purchased from different vendors, likely attributable to spontaneous mutations that have accumulated from generational inbreeding.³⁶ It is also important to account for variance within a given mouse litter,^34,36,67 which we explore in further depth through our discussions on postnatal weight gain (PWG) and hyperoxia-dependent changes on nursing mothers. In order to address these potential confounders, mouse OIR experiments should be conducted using the same strain obtained from a single vendor, intra-litter controls should be included when possible to minimize age and genetic heterogeneity, and there should be equal sampling from multiple litters. These variables are particularly important for studies using transgenic mice, in which the experimental and control mice should be from the same genetic background.^34,36

Effect of hyperoxia on lactating mothers

One notable challenge with the use of the mouse OIR model is the toxicity of hyperoxia, not only for pups but also for their nursing mothers. The earliest OIR experiments reported that nursing mothers were less tolerant of hyperoxic conditions than their pups, prompting the use of surrogate mothers from room air controls.¹¹ Surrogate use in the mouse OIR model has varied among research groups but was often preemptively incorporated in anticipation of known complications, such as pulmonary oxygen toxicity.²⁰ However, the currently accepted OIR model limits room air surrogate use to only when the mother expires, a relatively rare occurrence¹⁹ that generally occurs on the last day of high oxygen exposure or upon return to room air (ie, P12).³⁴ Nevertheless, the stress of hyperoxia on nursing mothers can be potentially detrimental to nursing behavior and fertility. It has been reported that the detrimental effects of hyperoxia to the mother can be minimized by modifying the model to 22 hours of high oxygen and 2 hours of room air per day instead of continuous high oxygen exposure.⁶⁸ From our laboratory’s experience, nursing mothers are no longer fertile after exposure to OIR, and thus should not be used for breeding purposes. We have also observed an increased tendency for mothers to cannibalize their pups during exposure to hyperoxia, as well as after transfer to normoxia when their cages are handled frequently. In contrast to the OIR studies of the 1950s when pups were routinely and frequently taken from the chambers for examination and returned,¹¹ we recommend minimal handling after return to normoxia as the stress from handling can lead to decreased lactation and increased cannibalization. Since mouse pups are dependent on their nursing dam for nutrition for the first 21 days of life, essentially the time course of OIR, the health and behavior of the nursing mother or surrogate are critical factors in pup survival. We have found that switching nursing mothers with surrogates from the 129S mouse strain upon transfer to room air at P12 greatly improves PWG and survival of pups. In spite of this, it is not uncommon for OIR pups to expire more frequently than room air pups for a variety of reasons, ranging from the aforementioned maternal factors to pup nutritional status, which we explore next in this review. Thus, when calculating sample sizes, it is important to anticipate the poor survival of pups exposed to OIR conditions.

Postnatal weight gain and OIR

Despite decades of experience with the mouse OIR model, PWG has only recently come to the attention of researchers as a critical factor in disease progression. The topic has been of increasing interest in clinical studies of ROP in recent years, especially since clinical advances that account for supplemental oxygen level with respect to gestational age have decreased ROP incidence and severity.^69,70 Indeed, screening methods that monitor PWG and IGF-1, a key factor in nutritional intake and retinal angiogenesis,^60,71,72 have been developed to reliably predict ROP.^73–75 Nevertheless, the physiological mechanisms behind weight-dependent OIR changes are not entirely known, and this has prompted a more thorough examination of weight gain in mouse models.^67,70 Prior research in a rat OIR model had noted an inverse relationship between the severity of NV and final weight.⁷⁶ Vanhaesebrouck et al observed a similar trend in mice; mice from larger litters had lower body weight, lower circulating levels of IGF-1, and more severe OIR.⁶⁷ Furthermore, they found that exogenous administration of IGF-1 was protective against OIR, providing the first strong evidence for IGF-1 as a therapeutic target. These findings highlight the importance of litter size as a proxy for postnatal growth and nutritional status, and current OIR protocols recommend limiting litter size to eight pups.³⁴ In another mouse OIR study by Stahl et al, pups with poor PWG (defined as <5 g at P17) had delayed and markedly prolonged vaso-obliteration and NV compared to medium weight gain (defined as 5–7.5 g) and extensive weight gain (defined as >7.5 g) pups.⁷⁰ The effect of surrogate use and litter size was also explored, with the results confirming the notion that smaller litter size (3–4/litter) correlates with improved weight gain and nutritional status, and that the use of additional surrogate dams at P1 leads to improved weight gain and NV similar to that observed in medium weight gain and extensive weight gain pups.⁷⁰ Thus, it is critical to document the use of surrogates in OIR experiments and to be mindful of litter size as these factors can markedly influence PWG and disease course.

In terms of the physiological mechanisms that may drive such changes, expression of VEGF, a potent stimulator of retinal angiogenesis,^51,53,55 was predictably elevated and prolonged in PWG pups, in a manner consistent with OIR disease course.⁷⁰ Additionally, IGF-1 was reduced early during phase 2 of OIR, which could lead to impaired revascularization.⁷⁰ Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of PWG as an independent factor in OIR disease course and severity. Recommendations have been made to record weight data in all OIR experiments, to exclude mice <6 g at P17,³⁴ and to ensure the use of consistent mouse weights when making comparisons.⁷⁰

Light exposure and OIR

The potential role of light exposure in ROP pathogenesis was first posited in 1942 by Terry.¹ Since then, clinical studies on the effect of light exposure on ROP incidence and severity have yielded conflicting results,^77,78 likely due to the multiplicity of variables in premature infant health and treatment conditions.⁷⁹ Thus, in the 1990s, researchers began to explore this question in animal OIR models, initially using rats⁸⁰ and kittens.⁸¹ No significant differences in pattern or course of OIR were observed with changes in light exposure duration or intensity in either of these animal models.^80,81 Expanding these studies to the mouse model of OIR, Wesolowski and Smith also did not note any adverse effects of light exposure on OIR but instead found that mice exposed to phase 1 hyperoxia in the dark had more NV than corresponding mice in the light; they hypothesize that this difference may be due to higher metabolic demands of the retina at night.⁷⁹

It is important to note that rodent pups are born with fused eyelids, which means that higher light intensities are needed to reach the eye.⁸² While no light-dependent vascular changes were noted in the OIR rat model, structural photoreceptor damage leading to progressive retinal degeneration has been observed with high-intensity light,⁸⁰ especially in albino Sprague Dawley rats.⁸² Of particular interest, a recent study by Natoli et al demonstrates that exposure to 670 nm red light during OIR in mouse and rats can protect against ROP, as evidenced by decreased vaso-obliteration, NV, and abnormal vascular patterning.⁸³ This novel finding suggests that light exposure may play a more substantial role in OIR and ROP than previously thought. In the context of OIR, time-dependent variability in retinal vascular growth and the changes associated with circadian rhythms may play a bigger role than light exposure, and so it is important to start experiments and sample collection at the same time of day to minimize potential variability from such factors.⁸⁴

Quantifying OIR

Although the advent of lectin and fluorescein staining greatly improved the visualization of vessels in the mouse retina, assessing the pathologic vascular changes seen in OIR continues to pose a significant challenge. As mentioned previously, a major benefit of Smith’s model has been the establishment of a method to quantify NV.¹⁹ Unlike prior methods that did not distinguish hyaloid and retinal NV, Smith et al were able to more accurately assess retinal NV by manually counting in retinal cross sections the nuclei of the cells of the microvessels that were invading into the vitreous.¹⁹ While this cross-sectional technique has been utilized in other studies,^51,53,67,85 the ability to successfully flatmount the whole mouse retina allowed for quantitative NV assessment that was previously thought to be too difficult to accomplish in mice.²⁰ The use of retinal whole-mounts has led to the development of a grading system for NV based on predefined characteristics.^86,87 Since whole retinal flatmount analysis allows the investigator to obtain a full view of the extent of disease (versus a snapshot of particular areas seen in retinal cross sections), counting vascular nuclei in cross sections is no longer regarded as the ideal means to quantify OIR. With the advent of computer-aided imaging software, it became possible to more precisely measure the area of neovascular tufts in mouse retinal whole-mounts.^59,61,88,89 Furthermore, image tracing and pixel calculations through software like Adobe Photoshop also allowed for the quantification of vaso-obliteration,³⁴ thereby providing a more comprehensive assessment of vascular changes throughout both phases of OIR.

Despite the improved accuracy of NV quantification afforded by these updated methods, all protocols are time-intensive and are somewhat subjective, given the need for manual counting, grading, or tracing of NV.³⁵ A new computer-aided method was developed in 2009 by Stahl et al using the free ImageJ software provided by the National Institutes of Health that makes the quantification process not only about five times faster but also less user-dependent and consequently more objective.³⁵ This method, termed SWIFT_NV, employs a set of macros that digitally subtract background fluorescence from overlaid images of retinal flatmounts, thus isolating neovascular tufts from normal vessels. While the approach requires manual tracing of areas of vaso-obliteration in order to overlay images, the authors argue that manual tracing of vaso-obliterated areas is much less time-consuming and subjective than manually tracing NV.³⁵ Notably, computer-aided image analysis of retinal NV was utilized in the rat model of OIR⁹⁰ more than a decade prior to its use in the mouse OIR model. Similar to the background subtraction method used in the SWIFT_NV approach that makes quantification more user-independent, Penn and Gay used image overlay and signal intensity threshold algorithms to the same effect ~20 years earlier.⁹⁰

Even with the improved reliability, objectivity, and efficiency of the SWIFT_NV approach, a few issues still remain. The quantification of vaso-obliterated areas still requires manual tracing, making studies of phase 1 of OIR vulnerable to inter-user variability. Plus, the SWIFT_NV approach itself is technically vulnerable since it requires manual tracing. A possible solution to this potential source of bias would be to incorporate masking into image analysis, where the user would not know which experimental group he or she is quantifying until after analysis is complete. The vaso-obliterative phase of OIR is relatively understudied; however, this phase is likely to receive more attention as it has become well established that the severity of vessel regression in phase 1 influences the extent of later NV.³⁶ In addition to quantifying vascular changes in early OIR, another challenge is assessing the resolution of NV during the end stages of OIR. This is inherently difficult, given our relative lack of understanding regarding how pathological vessels regress,³⁴ although recent research from our laboratory has implicated the alternative complement pathway, a key component of our innate system, in the clearance of pathological NV.⁵⁶ That being said, there is a systematic approach that assesses the resolution of NV based on four features of retinal vessels: shape, diameter, fluorescent intensity, and extension from the superficial retinal layer.^34,91

Finally, a major limitation of all of these quantitative approaches is that the mice must be sacrificed to allow for retinal isolation and staining, and so methods for in vivo quantification of NV are needed. Topical endoscopy fundus imaging (TEFI), a technique developed by Paques et al that provides high-resolution digital photographs of the retina in live mice,⁹² has been recently adapted for use in the mouse OIR model.⁹³ Although the earliest time point that TEFI can detect retinal vascular changes is at P15, the images obtained reflect disease course that is consistent with conventional methods of assessment, and a 5-point grading system developed by Furtado et al demonstrates reasonable intra- and interobserver reliability.⁹³ The use of TEFI provides the opportunity to perform multiple retinal examinations in the same mouse to track disease course.⁹³ Another recent technique, proposed by Mezu-Ndubuisi et al, couples fluorescein angiography with oxygen-sensitive microelectrodes to quantify NV changes during OIR in live mice.⁹⁴ Although neither technique is as accurate as conventional methods, they allow each sample to serve as its own control, thus strengthening the robustness of OIR data.

Additional considerations

There are a few other issues to consider when using the mouse model of OIR. Genetic or immunohistochemical studies that require RNA or protein, respectively, may be hindered by the smallness of neonatal mouse pup retinas. Thus, retinas from a number of mice are often pooled to obtain adequate protein or RNA levels for quantification. Ishikawa et al have recommended that both eyes from the same mouse pup be used for RNA studies, four eyes from two pups raised under identical conditions be used for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and biological replicates be used to reduce variability.⁹⁵ For gene expression studies, it is important to keep in mind that variable oxygen tensions can induce differential gene expression within different regions of the mouse retina.⁹⁶

Sex-related differences in OIR have not been thoroughly explored, possibly because of the difficulty in determining the sex of mouse pups. Smith et al claimed no such differences in their original 1994 OIR study, but they had also claimed no weight-related OIR differences in the same study,¹⁹ which we know not to be true. Interestingly, Miyamoto et al have found that administration of estrogen, specifically the ovarian sex hormone E2, during either phase of OIR can modulate VEGF expression and mitigate OIR severity.⁹⁷ In humans, it has been observed that female preterm infants with very low birth weights have a slight survival advantage compared to their male counterparts.^98,99 Although clinical studies have not observed sex-related differences in ROP incidence,¹⁰⁰ Yang et al found that sex was an independent risk factor for ROP that warrants surgery, with male infants more likely to undergo such procedures.¹⁰¹ Regardless of whether the sex of mouse pups affects OIR disease course, modulation of sex hormones may play a therapeutic role for ROP in the clinical setting.

Finally, it is worth noting that the mouse model of OIR does not replicate certain aspects of ROP seen in humans. Given improvements in supplemental oxygen dosing for preterm infants, the constant exposure of mice to 75% oxygen is much higher and less cyclical than what premature human infants experience,³⁷ which is actually closer to the 50/10 fluctuating OIR model in rats.³⁸ Additionally, no gestational manipulation occurs with the mouse OIR model since experiments are conducted postnatally, which means that other complications of premature birth are not reproduced.³⁷ While other animal OIR models (eg, kittens, beagles, rats) more closely resemble human ROP,^37,102 the mouse OIR model remains the quickest and least expensive, with the broadest transgenic and antibody-staining capabilities.

Conclusion

Application of the mouse OIR model to current and future research

A Google Scholar search of “oxygen induced retinopathy mice” (July 29, 2015) indicates that there are ~35,500 publications to date on the mouse model of OIR, with about half of these publications coming after the last such search conducted by Stahl et al in 2009.³⁶ This vast number reflects the ease with which researchers using this model can investigate a broad range of topics. Among these, the role of the immune system has been of particular interest, with hypotheses on the role of inflammation in ocular NV well preceding Smith’s work.¹⁰³ The complement system, a fundamental component of innate immunity, has recently been studied in the context of OIR, and has been shown to mediate retinal angiogenesis through clearance of pathologic neovessels.^56,104 Although leukocytes have also been shown to mediate retinal vascular remodeling in OIR,¹⁰⁵ neuroinflammation in the retina is still a relatively unexplored topic. Potential neurovascular cross-talk, specifically between retinal glial and neuronal cells, is becoming of interest in this context.^106–108 Additionally, the role of oxidative stress has been aptly studied in relation to the model,^109–112 with recent work demonstrating a critical role for endogenous and synthetic antioxidants in countering OIR.^68,113 Modulation of beta-adrenergic receptor activity has been shown to alter angiogenic activity in OIR.^114,115 Indeed, insights gained from the mouse OIR model, coupled with technological advancements in immunostaining and genetic manipulation, may help improve or lead to new animal models of vaso-proliferative retinopathies,¹¹⁶ such as the development of a zebrafish model of hypoxia-induced retinopathy.^117,118 Undoubtedly, the impact of the mouse OIR model has been significant: what began as an attempt to replicate ROP in mice has developed into a robust platform for investigating angiogenesis, neuroinflammation, and novel therapeutic strategies for many ocular conditions.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by US National Institutes of Health/National Eye Institute Grant R01EY022084/S1 (to KMC), Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) Special Research Scholar Award (to KMC), RPB Medical Student Fellowship Grant (to CBK), and a Fight for Sight, Inc. Student Fellowship Award (to CBK).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest related to this work.

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