ABSTRACT.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of different methods to induce choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the domestic pig. Methods: A total of 26 Danish landrace pigs was used. A sample of 22 eyes in 12 pigs underwent retinal photocoagulation with a xenon lamp, six eyes in four pigs underwent retinal photocoagulation with a diode laser, and mechanical rupture of Bruch's membrane (BM) was induced in 12 pigs following surgical debridement of the retinal pigment epithelium without damage to the neuroretina. Results: All 12 pigs (100%) in the group with mechanical rupture of BM developed CNV. The induced membranes were morphologically similar to CNV membranes in humans. Induced CNV was found in 13 of 22 (54%) xenon lamp-treated animals and in five of six (83%) diode laser-treated animals. The CNV in these groups was small and the morphology of the induced lesions was dominated by retinal gliosis and retinal neovascularization, probably due to a marked destruction of the neuroretina. Conclusions: Surgical debridement of the retinal pigment epithelium followed by mechanical rupture of BM is a reproducible method of producing CNV in the domestic pig, whereas photocoagulation gives rise to glially derived subretinal fibrovascular membranes and primarily retinal neovascularization.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: To investigate the use of an ocular basement membrane as support material for transplanted porcine RPE cells. Methods: Porcine RPE cells were grown on bovine corneal extracellular matrix (ECM), isolated bovine-and porcine lens capsules, and tissue culture plastic. Cell density, and cell morphology were studied by phase contrast microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Results: RPE cells grown on porcine anterior lens capsule and on ECM obtained better morphology and higher final cell density than cells grown on plastic and on bovine anterior lens capsule. It was possible to transplant the porcine anterior lens capsule to the subretinal space in pigs. Within two weeks of observation, the lens capsule was well tolerated in the subretinal space. Conclusion: The anterior lens capsule seems to be promising as support material for use in RPE cell-transplantation.

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