Vitamin E in kitten oxygen-induced retinopathy. II. Blockage of vitreal neovascularization
D. L. Phelps and A. L. Rosenbaum
The effect of vitamin E (tocopherol) on oxygen-induced retinopathy was
studied in the kitten after a quantitative scoring system was developed for
their India ink injected retinal flat preparations. In 75 previously
described kittens exposed to two or three days of oxygen from day 3,
treatment from day 1 with vitamin E or placebo disclosed that kittens
treated with vitamin E had less retinopathy. Theories of the mechanism of
action of vitamin E would predict that, if given only after the oxygen
exposure, vitamin E should be ineffective. This was tested in 37 kittens
with placebo or drug begun only after withdrawal from oxygen. Unexpectedly,
significantly less intravitreal neovascularization was found in kittens
treated with vitamin E after oxygen exposure.
