Impact of phlebotomy induced anemia on whole retinal transcriptome at P15 and P20 in the rat 50/10 OIR model

Phlebotomy-induced-anemia (PIA), which induces tissue hypoxia and angiogenesis, occurs universally among infants at risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We hypothesized that PIA exacerbates pathologic retinal neovascularization in ROP. Methods: We induced PIA to a hematocrit of 18% among rats undergoing the established 50/10 oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model. Rats were euthanized at P15 and P20, during the avascular and neovascular phases of OIR, respectively. Whole retinal transcriptomes were compared to non-PIA controls. Results: RNA sequencing showed dampened pathways of angiogenesis, inflammation, and neural development in anemic OIR females at P20. Conclusion: PIA dampened transcriptomic pathways central to retinal vascular and neural development in neonatal rats. These data suggest PIA provides a protective effect from ROP.