Establishment and Characterization of a Rabbit Model of Corneal Neovascularization with Lipid Keratopathy

• Main Authors: Lih-Chuan Yang, 楊力權
• Other Authors: Chung-Tien Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/38490429957415227290

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 臨床動物醫學研究所 === 99 === Lipid keratopathy is the term to describe lipid deposition in the cornea secondary to corneal neovascularization (NV). The disease causes the cosmetic problem, alters visual acuity and worsens the prognosis of corneal surgery. The primary purpose of this study is to establish a rabbit animal model of lipid keratopathy, and then the secondary purpose is to evaluate the inhibitory effects on corneal NV and lipid deposition by subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against vascular endothelial growth factor. Both animal models of corneal NV and hyperlipidemia were combined for establishing the animal model of lipid keratopathy, and the lipid keratopathy model was divided into two groups. The corneal NV model was induced before the hyperlipidemia model in the first group, and the second one was opposite in order. Significant crystal depositions were noted in all corneas of two groups. The treated eyes were examined with in vivo confocal laser-scanning microscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography, and they were prepared for corneal cryosections stained with Oil red O stain. The crystal depositions located in the anterior corneal stroma were confirmed for lipid. Therefore, the two rabbit models of lipid keratopathy were established successfully. Each of two lipid keratopathy models was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects by subconjunctival injection of 5 mg bevacizumab weekly and the side effects of bevacizumab by injecting for 10 weeks. There were no improvement noted obviously in all drug management groups of two lipid keratopathy models. The response to the drug was not significant in the eye with advanced lesion of lipid keratopathy, and there were no obvious side effects after injecting high dose of bevacizumab for 10 weeks. The inhibitory effects of early management on lipid keratopathy and the side effects of long-term injecting bevacizumab remain to investigate further in the future. The good animal model of lipid keratopathy was established stably and successfully in this study. The animal model will be useful in studies toward the developing new methods for controlling and treating lipid keratopathy.