Ocular wounding prevents pre-retinal neovascularization and upregulates PEDF expression in the inner retina

Perforation injury to the eye can protect against retinal degeneration and pigment epithelial derived factor (PEDF) may play a role in this neuro-protective effect. PEDF has also been shown to possess potent anti-angiogenic properties. The current study has investigated a possible anti-angiogenic effect of penetrating ocular injury in a murine model of oxygen induced proliferative retinopathy (OIR) and determined if such a procedure alters PEDF expression in the retina. OIR was produced by exposure of neonatal mice to 75% oxygen between postnatal days 7 and 12 (P7-P12). Mice were separated into various groups, with one group receiving a penetrating injury in a single eye. Pre-retinal neovascularization and intra-retinal ischaemia was quantified at P17 and PEDF protein expression was determined using immunofluorescence in retinal flatmounts and sections. PEDF mRNA was quantified using real-time RT-PCR. Punctured eyes showed less pre-retinal neovascularization at P17 when compared to the non-punctured eyes (p