Cytoarchitectonic and apoptotic consequences after intravitreal octreotide injection in an oxygen induced retinopathy mouse model

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To evaluate the cytoarchitectonic and apoptotic consequences after intravitreal Octreotide acetate (OA) injection in different concentrations in an oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR) mouse model.Methods A total of 26 of C57BL/J6 mice were exposed to 75±2% oxygen from postnatal day 7‐ 12. On day 12, 12 mice (group‐C) were injected with 0.1microg intravitreal Octreotide acetate (IVOA), 14 mice (group‐D) were injected with 0.05microg IVOA in right eye. The contralateral eyes were injected with isotonic saline (control group, group‐B). Four age‐matched mice, maintained in room air, were used as negative controls (group‐A). Neovascularization was quantified by counting the number of retinal vascular endothelial cell nuclei anterior to the inner limiting membrane. Cytoarchitectonic changes were examined by light and electron microscopy. Apoptosis was investigated using TUNEL technique.Results Endothelial cell nuclei count was lower in groups C (p<0.0001) and D (p<0.0001) compared with group‐B. Light microscopy showed no retinal toxicity in any group. Electron microscopic cytoarchitectonic evaluation revealed mitochondrial damage in the inner segment of the photoreceptors in OIR mouse model without increasing in IVOA injected groups. There was no significant increasing apoptotic cell death in the IVOA injected groups.Conclusion Intravitreal injection of OA may be a potential treatment of proliferative retinopathies.