Impacts of angiotensin II on retinal artery changes in apolipoprotein E deficient mice
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Key Lab of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China, Meng Li-Hui , Chen He ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Key Lab of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China, Wang Yue-Lin ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Key Lab of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China, Zhang Wen-Fei ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Key Lab of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China, Chen Huan ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Key Lab of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China, Zhao Xin-Yu ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Key Lab of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China, Chen You-Xin ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Key Lab of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
Published: December 2023

AIM: To investigate the impacts of angiotensin II (Ang II) on retinal artery changes in apolipoprotein E deficient (apoE -/-) mice.
METHODS: ApoE -/- male mice were infused by minipumps with Ang II at 1000 ng/kg·min (Ang II group) or saline (control group) for 28d. They were underwent ophthalmic fundus examination on day 0, 14, and 28 of infusion. Histopathologic examination, ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing and local Ang II measurement of retinas were conducted.
RESULTS: Ophthalmic fundus examination showed Ang II infusion promoted the formation of retinal arterial aneurysm-like lesions on day 28. Optical coherence tomography revealed the ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in the control group was significantly thinner than that in Ang II group (P&#x0026;#x003C;0.001). Hematoxylin-eosin staining demonstrated diffused swelling of GCIPL layer and its disordered structure in Ang II group. Transmission electron microscopy showed Ang II infusion caused aggravation of atherosclerotic lesions, including increased swelling, roughness, disorganization of the retinal vasculature, and vacuoles formation. RNA-sequencing and gene ontology enrichment analysis demonstrated that the structure and function of cellular membrane might be disturbed and visual function might be compromised by Ang II. The local level of Ang II was higher in Ang II infusion group but did not show significant differences compared to the control group (P=0.086).
CONCLUSION: Ang II infusion promotes the formation of retinal arterial aneurysm-like lesions in apoE -/- mice, causing aggravation of atherosclerotic lesions, more severe disorganization of the retinal vasculature and disturbance of the cellular membrane.