Blockade of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 1 Prevents Inflammation and Vascular Leakage in Diabetic Retinopathy

Figure 2

Inhibition of diabetes-caused retinal leukostasis by VEGFR1 blockade. The STZ-induced diabetic mice with two-week diabetes duration were used for this analysis. (a) The quantification showed that the number of leukocytes adhering to the retinal vasculature was significantly increased in the retinas of the diabetic mice compared with the nondiabetic mice but decreased due to VEGFR1 blockade. The total time of MF1 injection was 6 (3x/week). The results were expressed as the mean number ± SD (). versus nondiabetic mice. versus diabetic mice treated with rat IgG. ((b)–(d)) Fluorescein-labeled leukocytes in the retinal vasculature were photographed and converted to black-and-white images, which showed the localization of leukocytes in larger arteries and veins ((b) and (c)) and smaller capillaries (d). Arrows indicated the leukocytes.

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