Objectives: To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the
pathogenesis of the first phase of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to examine the
mechanism by which supplemental oxygen therapy might inhibit neovascularization in the
second phase of ROP. Methods: A novel combination of fluorescein-dextran perfusion and
colorimetric whole-retina in situ hybridization was used to evaluate the expression of VEGF
messenger RNA in relationship to the location of blood vessels in retinas from neonatal mice …