The role of sphingolipids, mainly sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and the receptors for which it serves as a ligand, is an interesting and promising area in both sphingolipid and vascular biology. S1P is crucial for establishing blood flow competent blood vessels (Jung et al. Dev Cell 23(3):600-610, 2012). The role of S1P in neovascular pathology is of great interest and promising as a target for treatment. Here we describe an easy and affordable in vivo model of neovascularization by an alkali chemical burn to the cornea. This gives a consistent and easy way to quantitate methods for neovascularization.
Keywords: Angiogenesis; Cornea; Neovascularization; Sphingosine 1-phosphate.