Choroidal Neovascularization Introduction

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in older adults. Most severe vision loss is caused by pathological choroidal neovascularization (CNV). CNV formation involves immature neovascularization from the choriocapillaris through Bruch's membrane and extending into the subretinal and/or subretinal pigment epithelial space, resulting in subretinal fluid, subretinal hemorrhage, thick exudates, and retinal detachment. The prognosis of CNV in AMD is clinically poor, and existing treatments are limited in delaying disease progression. Therefore, the development of suitable AMD animal models will facilitate the search for potential treatments, including gene therapy. The laser-induced CNV porcine model is a well-known animal model of exudative AMD, mainly due to the porcine model's relevance to preclinical pharmacology studies, such as eye size, choroidal blood flow, RPE features, and sclera thickness.

Fig. 1. Histopathology of type 2 choroidal neovascularization (CNV). (Tran J, et al., 2017)

Service Overview

Pigs are an excellent surrogate for large animal models of neovascular age-related macular degeneration due to their similar spheroid size and retinal anatomy to humans. As a full-service ophthalmology preclinical CRO, Ace Therapeutics has successfully developed a porcine choroidal neovascularization model.

This model is an ideal choice for characterizing novel research molecules for proliferative posterior segment diseases of the eye and can aid our customers in wet age-related macular degeneration research. Importantly, we can work with you at any stage of project development to expedite project timelines in all application areas.

Explore Ace Therapeutics' Minipig Models of Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV)

Ace Therapeutics researchers use minipigs to build a laser-induced CNV model. Specifically, six lesions were created around the optic disc (OD) of minipigs using a 532nm green argon laser to create a minipig CNV model with a follow-up period of 15 days. This animal model was highly correlated with CNVs that occasionally occur in human eyes after accidental laser burns.

It is worth mentioning that our laser conditions were determined by trial and error by our scientists to induce uniform, consistent subretinal plaques and observed subretinal fibrosis in minipigs.

Model characteristics: Lesions producing marked rupture of Bruch's membrane, edema, and neovascularization with subretinal fibrosis with mild exudate and hyperemia.

Available Support Services

To verify the high reliability of the model, Ace Therapeutics researchers develop a series of non-invasive fluorescein angiography imaging systems for visualization and quantitative assessment of leakage and lesion size, including：

• Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA).
• Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography.
• Micron IV imaging system.

Ace Therapeutics is committed to being your trusted partner in eye disease research. We provide an unparalleled miniature porcine choroidal neovascularization model to our global customers. If you are interested in our services or need more detailed information, please feel free to contact us. Our experienced scientists are ready to help you!

References

1. Tran J, Craven C, Wabner K, et al. A Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Choroidal Neovascularization in a Porcine Model Using Three Targeted Drugs. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017, 58(9):3732-3740.
2. Fabian-Jessing BK, Jakobsen TS, Jensen EG, et al. Animal Models of Choroidal Neovascularization: A Systematic Review. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2022, 63(9):11.
3. Bartoe, Joshua & Boyd, Ryan & Yekkala, et al. Characterization of a yucatan minipig laser-induced choroidal neovascularization model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Toxicology Letters. 2017, 280:S156.

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