Bovine retinal explants cultured in collagen gels. A model system for the study of proliferative retinopathy
J. V. Forrester, A. Chapman, C. Kerr, J. Roberts, W. R. Lee and J. M. Lackie
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
We have developed a model system for studying proliferative retinopathy in
vitro using bovine retinal explants cultured in collagen gels. Cellular
outgrowth from retinal explants occurred after 7 days as single cells from
peripapillary explants or as cell sheets and tubular outgrowths from
peripheral retinal explants. Single cell outgrowths were shown
immunohistochemically to be endothelial cells or macrophages; sheetlike and
tubular outgrowths also constituted cords of endothelial cells with stromal
macrophages, but in addition glial cells were closely associated with the
endothelial cells. Cellular outgrowths were preceded by extensive
macrophage activation within the ischemic retinal explant, suggesting that
macrophage-derived angiogenic factors may be important in inducing retinal
endothelial cell proliferation. In addition, glial cell-derived factors may
have a role in the development of vessellike tubular structures from
endothelial cell outgrowths.
