Retinal and vitreal neovascularization in retinopathy of prematurity. A scanning electron microscopic study in the kitten

S. Yoneya and M. O. Tso
Georgiana Dvorak Theobald Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute, UIC Eye Center 60612.

The angioarchitecture of vitreal and retinal neovascularizations produced experimentally in the eyes of kittens aged 2 to 9 weeks was studied with scanning electron microscopy. Various forms of new retinal and vitreal vessels were observed depending on topographic locations. Intraretinal neovascularization was observed at the retinal periphery as it grew toward the avascular zone in forms of short vascular buds, aneurysmal outgrowths, and neovascular loops. Posterior or to this frond of neovascularization, intertwining intraretinal telangiectasia was observed. At the posterior pole, capillaries with microaneurysms extended posteriorly toward the deeper layers of the retina from the vascular trunks at the nerve fiber layer. Vitreal neovascularization broke through the internal limiting membrane and exhibited aneurysmal outgrowths, clusters of glomerular swellings, and sinusoidal vascular channels. At the optic disc, vitreous neovascularization took the form of aneurysmal outgrowths and long vascular buds. Vitreal neovascularization showed different characteristics from the intraretinal neovascularization. We hypothesize that the topographic variation of the angioarchitecture of retinal and vitreal neovascularizations depends on the maturity of the vessels and might be related to the hemodynamics at each site.