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We investigated the effect of receptor blockade induced by an angiotensin II type-1 receptor antagonist (AT1-RB) on glial and vascular changes in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), a model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). OIR was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by exposure to 80% oxygen from postnatal (P) days 0–11, followed by 7 days in room air. Control animals were in room air for the entire duration. One cohort of OIR and control pups received the AT1-RB valsartan (40 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal) from P11 to P18. The vascular response was examined immunocytochemically using retinal wholemounts and vertical sections labeled with endothelial (Isolectin-B4) and pericyte (NG2, desmin) markers. Glial cell changes were assessed by measuring cell numbers and immunoreactivity (S100b, connexin-26, and glial fibrillary acidic protein). OIR resulted in extensive intravitreal neovascularization and under …