Choosing preclinical study models of diabetic retinopathy: key problems for consideration

• Published in: Drug design, development and therapy Vol. 8; no. default; pp. 2311 - 2319
• Main Authors: Mi, Xuesong, Yuan, Ti-Fei, Zhong, Jing-Xiang, Ding, Yong, So, Kwok-Fai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Press; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; animal model; Animal models; Animal models in research; Animals; Culture; Design of experiments; Design optimization; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetic retinopathy; Diabetic Retinopathy - complications; Diabetic Retinopathy - drug therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Edema; ex vivo culture; Experimental design; Eye surgery; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Hypotheses; in vitro culture; In vivo methods and tests; Medical imaging; Medical research; neurovascular dysfunction; Pathogenesis; Prevention; Researchers; Retina; Retinopathy; Review; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Spain; Hong Kong; China; neurovascular dysfunction; ex vivo culture; animal model; in vitro culture
• DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S72797
• ISSN: 1177-8881

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus in the eye. Although the clinical treatment for DR has already developed to a relative high level, there are still many urgent problems that need to be investigated in clinical and basic science. Currently, many in vivo animal models and in vitro culture systems have been applied to solve these problems. Many approaches have also been used to establish different DR models. However, till now, there has not been a single study model that can clearly and exactly mimic the developmental process of the human DR. Choosing the suitable model is important, not only for achieving our research goals smoothly, but also, to better match with different experimental proposals in the study. In this review, key problems for consideration in choosing study models of DR are discussed. These problems relate to clinical relevance, different approaches for establishing models, and choice of different species of animals as well as of the specific in vitro culture systems. Attending to these considerations will deepen the understanding on current study models and optimize the experimental design for the final goal of preventing DR.