Subretinal choroidal neovascularization as a response to penetrating retinal injury in the pigmented rabbit.

Subretinal choroidal neovascularization has been identified in the pigmented rabbit in association with penetrating retinal injury. In this study, the subretinal new vessels were not contained within the fibrous scar, but were located posterior to it and impinged on the visual streak. Histology revealed subretinal neovascularization in the region of transition from normal to atrophic retina. These new vessels originated from the choroidal vessels and extended through a spontaneous break in Bruch's membrane into the retinal pigment epithelium. There was degeneration of the photoreceptors and hyperplasia of the retinal pigment epithelium in the region of neovascularization. The subretinal new vessels identified in the pigmented rabbit have many of the morphological features seen in the human clinical condition, and therefore this animal model may be useful in studying human choroidal neovascularization.