AIM: To analyze the modeling characteristics and validation indexes of diabetic retinopathy model, analyze the shortcomings of the present animal experimental modeling, and provide a reference basis for the establishment of the standardization of the diabetic retinopathy model.

METHODS: Literatures related to animal experiments on diabetic retinopathy were searched through the databases of CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and PubMed, and the experimental animal species, grade, gender, age, modeling method, modeling period, validation indexes, and other indexes were summarized and analyzed.

RESULTS: The 275 papers that met the criteria were included. The animal models of diabetic retinopathy were mainly SD rats and Wistar rats, the sex of the experimental animals was mainly male, and the animal breeds were mostly of the SPF class. The age of most of the animals used was in the range of 6-8 weeks old; the modeling was based on those who established the type 1 diabetes model, mainly using STZ as the induction model. While the type 2 diabetes model was based on the high-fat, high-sugar diet combined with STZ. The modeling criteria were verified by detecting retinal morphology and structure, retinal vascularization, retinal function, and retinal cell apoptosis. In addition, the model was evaluated by detecting abnormal vascular proliferation, oxidative stress indicators, and inflammatory factor levels in retinal tissues, as well as abnormal vascular proliferation and inflammatory factor levels in aqueous humour, vitreous humor, and blood serum.

CONCLUSION: Although the animal model of diabetic retinopathy has become a hotspot, the existing review is not comprehensive. Therefore, we summarized and analyzed the elements of the animal model through literature collation, including its characteristics and limitations, and providing methodological references for the establishment of the model, with a view to laying a solid foundation for the subsequent clinical and basic research of traditional Chinese medicine.