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Computer-aided quantification of retinal neovascularization

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Abstract

Rodent models of retinal angiogenesis play a pivotal role in angiogenesis research. These models are a window to developmental angiogenesis, to pathological retinopathy, and are also in vivo tools for anti-angiogenic drug screening in cancer and ophthalmic research. The mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) has emerged as one of the leading in vivo models for these purposes. Many of the animal studies that laid the foundation for the recent breakthrough of anti-angiogenic treatments into clinical practice were performed in the OIR model. However, readouts from the OIR model have been time-consuming and can vary depending on user experience. Here, we present a computer-aided quantification method that is characterized by (i) significantly improved efficiency, (ii) high correlation with the established hand-measurement protocols, and (iii) high intra- and inter-individual reproducibility of results. This method greatly facilitates quantification of retinal angiogenesis while at the same time increasing lab-to-lab reproducibility of one of the most widely used in vivo models in angiogenesis research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Children’s Hospital Boston, Fegan 4, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    A. Stahl, K. M. Connor, P. Sapieha, K. L. Willett, N. M. Krah, R. J. Dennison, J. Chen, K. I. Guerin & L. E. H. Smith

  2. University Eye Hospital Freiburg, Killianstr. 5, 79106, Freiburg, Germany

    A. Stahl

Authors
  1. A. Stahl
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  2. K. M. Connor
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  3. P. Sapieha
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  4. K. L. Willett
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  5. N. M. Krah
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  6. R. J. Dennison
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  7. J. Chen
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  8. K. I. Guerin
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  9. L. E. H. Smith
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. E. H. Smith.

Additional information

A. Stahl and K. M. Connor contributed equally.

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Quicktime movie of SWIFT NV quantification (MOV 7207 kb)

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Stahl, A., Connor, K.M., Sapieha, P. et al. Computer-aided quantification of retinal neovascularization. Angiogenesis 12, 297–301 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-009-9155-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-009-9155-3

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