Study Tracks Postnatal Retinal Vessel Development and Microglia in Transgenic Mice

Retinal vessels develop from the center of the optic papilla and radiate toward the peripheral retina during postnatal development, according to an experimental investigation conducted in transgenic mice. Researchers observed that retinal microglia actively participate in this vessel formation and developmental process across the postnatal period.

The investigation evaluated retinal vascular formation in CX3CR1 gfp/gfp transgenic mice after birth. To characterize this developmental timeline, the researchers subjected the mice to retinal vascular examinations across eight distinct developmental time points, thoroughly analyzing vessel length, vessel branching, and the differentiation of arteries and veins.

The examinations demonstrated that retinal vascular remodeling began at postnatal day 7. By postnatal day 14, the developing vascular network had consolidated into a distinctive honeycomb-like architecture across the retina.

Measurements revealed that the length of the large retinal vessels increased gradually from postnatal day 14 onward. This progressive elongation continued until a complete retinal vascular network was fully established at postnatal day 17.

Structural evaluations indicated that the number of primary vessel branches increased starting at postnatal day 17 and subsequently decreased through postnatal day 30. Throughout the developmental span from postnatal day 1 to postnatal day 30, the density of microglia in the central retina remained higher than the density observed at the retinal edge.

At postnatal day 1, microglia were detected appearing at the edge of the retina, where they preferred vessel formation. The researchers noted that because retinal vessel formation is a complex process that may be affected by multiple etiological factors, these developmental findings in CX3CR1 gfp/gfp mice may serve as a reference database for therapeutic trials on retinal vascular diseases.

Subject of Research: Postnatal retinal vascular development and microglia dynamics in transgenic mice

Article Title: Microglia guide stepwise retinal vascular sprouting and remodeling in postnatal CX3CR1-GFP mice: a spatiotemporal observation from P1 to P30

Article References: Wang, J., Liu, Q., Shi, P., & Wang, Y. (2026). Microglia guide stepwise retinal vascular sprouting and remodeling in postnatal CX3CR1-GFP mice: a spatiotemporal observation from P1 to P30. Frontiers in Physiology, 17, Article 1926267. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2026.1926267

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2026.1926267

Keywords: retinal vessel formation, microglia, CX3CR1-GFP mice, vascular remodeling, retina, vascular development, optic papilla, postnatal development, guide, stepwise, retinal, vascular