Biometric measurement of the mouse eye using optical coherence tomography with focal plane advancement

The response of retinal ganglion cells to optical defocused visual stimuli in mouse retinas

Myopia and astigmatism are two primary types of refractive errors characterized by inaccurate focusing images on the retina. This study aimed to investigate the response characteristics of Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs), represented by alpha (α) RGCs, when exposed to focused, simulated spherically defocused images and astigmatically defocused images projected onto mouse retinas. Negative pressure was applied to stretch the soma of RGC in vitro to simulate myopia using a 7-8 μm diameter glass microelectrode, resulting in a 5% increase in the cell's diameter. A custom-made device was utilized to project spherically (equal to ±10 and ± 20 D) and astigmatically (+6.00 D) defocused images onto the retinas. As a control for a deficient intact retinal circuit, αRGCs of connexin 36 knockout (Cx36 KO) mice were used. The response of αRGCs varied significantly in terms of spikes, excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and capacitances under stretching conditions to mimic myopia. Significant differences in the amplitudes of EPSCs were observed in the majority of αRGCs when exposed to focused and spherically defocused images in normal and mechanically simulated myopic retinas. However, this difference was not observed in αRGCs of Cx36 KO mice. αRGCs demonstrated significant differences in response between focused and astigmatically defocused images. Once again, αRGCs of Cx36 KO mice did not display differences. αRGCs have the ability to detect focused, spherically, and astigmatically defocused images and exhibit differential responses ex vivo. Gap junction subunit Cx36 may play a crucial role in transmitting visual signals associated with developing and perceiving refractive errors.

Quantitative intravitreal pharmacokinetics in mouse as a step towards inter-species translation

Although mouse models are widely used in retinal drug development, pharmacokinetics in mouse eye is poorly understood. In this study, we applied non-invasive in vivo fluorophotometry to study pharmacokinetics of intravitreal fluorescein sodium (molecular weight 0.38 kDa) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FD-150; molecular weight 150 kDa) in mice. Intravitreal half-lives of fluorescein and FD-150 in mouse eyes were 0.53 ± 0.06 h and 2.61 ± 0.86 h, respectively. These values are 8-230 times shorter than the elimination half-lives of similar compounds in the human vitreous. The apparent volumes of distribution in the mouse vitreous were close to the anatomical volume of the mouse vitreous (FD-150, 5.1 μl; fluorescein, 9.6 μl). Dose scaling factors were calculated from mouse to rat, rabbit, monkey and human translation. Based on pharmacokinetic modelling and compound concentrations in the vitreous and anterior chamber, fluorescein is mainly eliminated posteriorly across blood-retina barrier, but FD-150 is cleared via aqueous humour outflow. The results of this study improve the knowledge of intravitreal pharmacokinetics in mouse and facilitate inter-species scaling in ocular drug development.

A workflow to visualize vertebrate eyes in 3D

PURPOSE

To establish a workflow to visualize the surgical anatomy in 3D based on histological data of eyes of experimental animals for improving the planning of complex surgical procedures.

METHODS

Four C57BL/6J wild-type(wt) mouse eyes, three Brown Norway rat eyes and four Chinchilla Bastard rabbit eyes were enucleated and processed for standard histology with serial sections and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Image stacks were processed to obtain a representation of the eye anatomy in 3D. In addition, virtual image stacks and 3D point clouds were generated by processing sagittal sections of eyes with stepwise 180° rotation and projection around the eye axis to construct a rotationally symmetric 3D model from one single sagittal section.

RESULTS

Serial sections of whole eyes of mice, rats and rabbits showed significant artifacts interfering with a practical image stack generation and straightforward 3D reconstruction despite the application of image registration techniques. A workflow was established to obtain a 3D image of the eye based on virtual image stacks and point cloud generation by rotation of a single sagittal section of the eye around the symmetry axis. By analyzing the tissue shrinkage during histological processing true biometric reconstructions of the eyes were feasible making the resulting model usable for 3D modeling and simulation, e.g. for planning of complex surgical procedures in different species.

CONCLUSION

Because serial sections of the eye with standard histological protocols yielded too many artifacts for a straightforward 3D visualization we reconstructed a pseudorealistic 3D model based on virtual image stacks and point cloud generation calculated from a single sagittal section of the eye. Such a model detailing microscopic structures of the whole eye will allow for a specific planning of surgical procedures in small animal eyes in order to prevent surgical complications in a very early stage of an experiment and it will support the design and development of complex intraocular implants. It will therefore be helpful in surgical teaching and improve laboratory animal welfare by an expected reduction of experimental animal numbers. Further processing including integration of mechanical tissue properties is needed to convert these 3D models into a practical virtual reality teaching and simulation platform for eyes of several species.

GLRA2 gene mutations cause high myopia in humans and mice

BACKGROUND

High myopia (HM) is a leading cause of blindness that has a strong genetic predisposition. However, its genetic and pathogenic mechanisms remain largely unknown. Thus, this study aims to determine the genetic profile of individuals from two large Chinese families with HM and 200 patients with familial/sporadic HM. We also explored the pathogenic mechanism of HM using HEK293 cells and a mouse model.

METHODS

The participants underwent genome-wide linkage analysis and exome sequencing. Visual acuity, electroretinogram response, refractive error, optical parameters and retinal rod cell genesis were measured in knockout mice. Immunofluorescent staining, biotin-labelled membrane protein isolation and electrophysiological characterisation were conducted in cells transfected with overexpression plasmids.

RESULTS

A novel HM locus on Xp22.2-p11.4 was identified. Variant c.539C>T (p.Pro180Leu) in GLRA2 gene was co-segregated with HM in the two families. Another variant, c.458G>A (p.Arg153Gln), was identified in a sporadic sample. The Glra2 knockout mice showed myopia-related phenotypes, decreased electroretinogram responses and impaired retinal rod cell genesis. Variants c.458G>A and c.539C>T altered the localisation of GlyRα2 on the cell membrane and decreased agonist sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

GLRA2 was identified as a novel HM-causing gene. Its variants would cause HM through altered visual experience by impairing photoperception and visual transmission.

Comparison of the accuracy of axial length measurement by different imaging methods in Sprague Dawley rats

Background

Obtaining accurate axial length (AL) is very important for the establishment of animal models of myopia. The purpose of this study is to compare the accuracy of Quantel A-B scan, OD-1 A scan, and vernier caliper in measuring AL in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.

Methods

In total, 60 5-week-old SD rats were divided into female rat group (n = 30) and male rat group (n = 30). Quantel A-B scan and OD-1 A scan were, respectively, used to measure the AL of both eyes of each living rat, and vernier caliper was used to measure the anterior-posterior diameter of each rat's eyeball. Besides, the correlation between refractive error (RE) and AL measured by different instruments was evaluated, and the accuracy of the three measurement methods was compared according to gender and left/right eyes.

Results

There were significant differences in AL and diopter of SD rats at the same age (p < 0.05). the AL of male rats was greater than that of female rats, while diopter (D) was the opposite; There was no significant difference in AL and D between left and right eyes in the same SD rats (p > 0.05); There were statistical differences among the three measurement methods (p < 0.05), AL measured by vernier caliper was the largest, followed by Quantel A-B scan, OD-1 A scan; Difference in AL between male and female was not statistically significant between the results obtained by Quantel A-B scan and vernier caliper (p > 0.05), but there were statistically significant differences between the other two measurement methods (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Sex is the influencing factor of AL and RE. Imaging measurement can accurately measure the AL in living small rodents. Compared with OD-1 A scan, Quantel A-B scan may be more accurate.

Biometric measurement with a commercially available swept-source optical coherence tomography in myopia model species

Background

Biometric parameters play an important role in studies on myopia. This study aimed to explore the application of a commercially available two-dimensional visualized swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, for in vivo biometric measurement in multiple myopia model species.

Methods

In this study, chickens, guinea pigs, and C57BL/6 mice underwent eye imaging with the commercially available OCT (CASIA2), and the original images were used to calculate the central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), vitreous chamber depth (VCD), and axial length (AL). The retinal thickness and choroidal thickness were also calculated in chicken eyes. The repeatability of the biometric measurement outcomes was analyzed.

Results

Excellent repeatable AL measurements were obtained for all three species, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of ≥0.941 and a within-subject standard deviation of ≤0.055. Excellent repeatability was found in chicken eyes for ACD, LT, and VCD, with an ICC of ≥0.932; in guinea pig eyes for ACD and VCD, with an ICC of ≥0.934; and in mouse eyes for LT, with an ICC of ≥0.941.

Conclusions

It is effective to use commercially available OCT to measure biometric parameters in chickens, guinea pigs, and C57BL/6 mice. This methodology could potentially increase the accuracy and efficiency of future myopia animal experiments.

Recent advances in optical coherence tomography for anterior segment imaging in small animals and their clinical implications

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) is a rapidly evolving area of OCT imaging, providing high-resolution and non-invasive volumetric imaging of the anterior segment. This review focuses on recent advances in AS-OCT imaging in small animals, which we categorize into ultrahigh-resolution, spectroscopic, magnetomotive, polarization-sensitive, and angiographic AS-OCTs. We summarize their technical foundations, review their applications to small animal imaging, and briefly discuss their current and future clinical applications.

Age differential response to bevacizumab therapy in choroidal neovascularization in rabbits

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in young rabbits has been shown to have a rapid, robust response after treatment with bevacizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) medication. This investigation evaluates an age differential response to bevacizumab in older populations of rabbits using multimodal high resolution molecular imaging. Young (4 months old) and life span (14 months old) rabbits were given subretinal injections of Matrigel and VEGF to produce CNV. All CNV rabbit models were then treated with a bevacizumab intravitreal injection. Rabbits were then monitored longitudinally using photoacoustic microscopy (PAM), optical coherence tomography (OCT), color photography, and fluorescence imaging. Chain-like gold nanoparticle clusters (CGNP) conjugated with tripeptide arginylglycylaspartic acid (RGD) was injected intravenously for molecular imaging. Robust CNV developed in both young and old rabbits. After intravitreal bevacizumab injection, fluorescence signals were markedly decreased 90.13% in the young group. In contrast, old rabbit CNV area decreased by only 10.56% post-bevacizumab treatment. OCT images confirmed a rapid decrease of CNV in the young group. CGNPs demonstrated high PAM signal in old rabbits and minimal PAM signal in young rabbits after bevacizumab, indicating CNV regression. There is a significant difference in response to intravitreal bevacizumab treatment between young and old rabbits with CNV which can be monitored with multimodal molecular imaging. Old rabbits demonstrate significant persistent disease activity. This represents the first large eye model of persistent disease activity of CNV and could serve as the foundation for future investigations into the mechanism of persistent disease activity and the development of novel therapies.

Form-deprivation myopia downregulates calcium levels in retinal horizontal cells in mice

The process of eye axis lengthening in myopic eyes is regulated by multiple mechanisms in the retina, and horizontal cells (HCs) are an essential interneuron in the visual regulatory system. Wherein intracellular Ca²⁺ plays an important role in the events involved in the regulatory role of HCs in the retinal neural network. It is unknown if intracellular Ca²⁺ regulation in HCs mediates changes in the retinal neural network during myopia progression. We describe here a novel calcium fluorescence indicator system that monitors HCs' intracellular Ca²⁺ levels during form-deprivation myopia (FDM) in mice. AAV injection of GCaMP6s, as a protein calcium sensor, into a Gja10-Cre mouse monitored the changes in Ca²⁺signaling in HC that accompany FDM progression in mice. An alternative Gja10-Cre/Ai96-GCaMP6s mouse model was created by cross mating Gja10-Cre with Ai96 mice. Immunofluorescence imaging and live imaging of the retinal cells verified the identity of these animal models. Changes in retinal horizontal cellular Ca²⁺ levels were resolved during FDM development. The numbers of GCaMP6s and the proportion of HCs were tracked based on profiling changes in GCaMP6s⁺calbindin⁺/calbindin⁺ coimmunostaining patterns. They significantly decreased more after either two days (P < 0.01) or two weeks (P < 0.001) in form deprived eyes than in the untreated fellow eyes. These decreases in their proportion reached significance only in the retinal central region rather than also in the retinal periphery. A novel approach employing a GCaMP6s mouse model was developed that may ultimately clarify if HCs mediate Ca²⁺ signals that contribute to controlling FDM progression in mice. The results indicate so far that FDM progression is associated with declines in HC Ca²⁺ signaling activity.

Declines in PDE4B activity promote myopia progression through downregulation of scleral collagen expression

Myopia is the most common cause of a visual refractive error worldwide. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-linked signaling pathways contribute to the regulation of myopia development, and increases in cAMP accumulation promote myopia progression. To pinpoint the underlying mechanisms by which cAMP modulates myopia progression, we performed scleral transcriptome sequencing analysis in form-deprived mice, a well-established model of myopia development. Form deprivation significantly inhibited the expression levels of genes in the cAMP catabolic pathway. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis validated that the gene expression level of phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B), a cAMP hydrolase, was downregulated in form-deprived mouse eyes. Under visually unobstructed conditions, loss of PDE4B function in Pde4b-knockout mice increased the myopic shift in refraction, -3.661 ± 1.071 diopters, more than that in the Pde4b-wildtype littermates (P < 0.05). This suggests that downregulation and inhibition of PDE4B gives rise to myopia. In guinea pigs, subconjunctival injection of rolipram, a selective inhibitor of PDE4, led to myopia in normal eyes, and it also enhanced form-deprivation myopia (FDM). Subconjunctival injection of dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate, a cAMP analog, induced only a myopic shift in the normal visually unobstructed eyes, but it did not enhance FDM. As myopia developed, axial elongation occurred during scleral remodeling that was correlated with changes in collagen fibril thickness and distribution. The median collagen fibril diameter in the FDM + rolipram group, 55.09 ± 1.83 nm, was thinner than in the FDM + vehicle group, 59.33 ± 2.06 nm (P = 0.011). Thus, inhibition of PDE4 activity with rolipram thinned the collagen fibril diameter relative to the vehicle treatment in form-deprived eyes. Rolipram also inhibited increases in collagen synthesis induced by TGF-β2 in cultured human scleral fibroblasts. The current results further support a role for PDE enzymes such as PDE4B in the regulation of normal refractive development and myopia because either loss or inhibition of PDE4B function increased myopia and FDM development through declines in the scleral collagen fibril diameter.

Influence of Chronic Ocular Hypertension on Emmetropia: Refractive, Structural and Functional Study in Two Rat Models

Chronic ocular hypertension (OHT) influences on refraction in youth and causes glaucoma in adulthood. However, the origin of the responsible mechanism is unclear. This study analyzes the effect of mild-moderate chronic OHT on refraction and neuroretina (structure and function) in young-adult Long-Evans rats using optical coherence tomography and electroretinography over 24 weeks. Data from 260 eyes were retrospectively analyzed in two cohorts: an ocular normotension (ONT) cohort (<20 mmHg) and an OHT cohort (>20 mmHg), in which OHT was induced either by sclerosing the episcleral veins (ES group) or by injecting microspheres into the anterior chamber. A trend toward emmetropia was found in both cohorts over time, though it was more pronounced in the OHT cohort (p < 0.001), especially in the ES group (p = 0.001) and males. IOP and refraction were negatively correlated at week 24 (p = 0.010). The OHT cohort showed early thickening in outer retinal sectors (p < 0.050) and the retinal nerve fiber layer, which later thinned. Electroretinography demonstrated early supranormal amplitudes and faster latencies that later declined. Chronic OHT accelerates emmetropia in Long–Evans rat eyes towards slowly progressive myopia, with an initial increase in structure and function that reversed over time.

The Emerging Role of Topical Ocular Drugs to Target the Posterior Eye

The prevalence of chronic fundus diseases is increasing with the aging of the general population. The treatment of these intraocular diseases relies on invasive drug delivery because of the globular structure and multiple barriers of the eye. Frequent intraocular injections bring heavy burdens to the medical care system and patients. The use of topical drugs to treat retinal diseases has always been an attractive solution. The fast development of new materials and technologies brings the possibility to develop innovative topical formulations. This article reviews anatomical and physiological barriers of the eye which affect the bioavailability of topical drugs. In addition, we summarize innovative topical formulations which enhance the permeability of drugs through the ocular surface and/or extend the drug retention time in the eye. This article also reviews the differences of eyes between different laboratory animals to address the translational challenges of preclinical models. The fast development of in vitro eye models may provide more tools to increase the clinical translationality of topical formulations for intraocular diseases. Clinical successes of topical formulations rely on continuous and collaborative efforts between different disciplines.

Ocular Pressure-Volume Relationship and Ganglion Cell Death in Glaucoma

We studied how GC death in glaucoma related to the intraocular pressure (IOP), eyeball volume (VS) and elasticity (volumetric KS and tensile ES), and eyeball volume-pressure relation. Glaucomatous GC loss was studied in DBA/2J (D2) mice with wild-type mice as controls. GCs were retrogradely identified and observed with a confocal microscope. The elasticity calculation was also done on published data from patients treated by a gas bubble injection in the vitreous cavity. The GC population in D2 mice (1.5- to 14-month-old) was negatively correlated with following factors: VS (p = 0.0003), age (p = 0.0026) and IOP (but p = 0.0966). As indicated by average values, adult D2 mice (≥6 months) suffered significant GC loss, low KS and ES, and universal expansion of VS with normal IOP. KS and ES in the patients were also lower upon prolonged eyeball expansion compared to acute expansion. Based on the results and presumptions of a closed and continuous eyeball space (thereby ΔVS ≈ ΔVW, ΔVW-the change in the aqueous humor amount), we deduced equations on the ocular volume-pressure relationship: ΔIOP = KS*ΔVW/VS or ΔIOP = (2/3)*[1/(1-ν)]*(H/R)*ES*ΔVW/VS (ν, Poisson's ratio taken as 0.5; R, the curvature radius; and H, the shell thickness). Under normal atmospheric pressure, IOP of 10~50 mmHg contributed only 1.2~6.6% of the pressure opposing the retina and eyeball shell. We conclude: 1) A disturbance of ocular volume-pressure homeostasis, mediated primarily by low KS and ES, expanded VS, and large ΔVW, is correlated with GC death in glaucoma and 2) D2 mice with GC loss and normal IOP may serve as animal models for human normal-tension glaucoma.

Stepwise candidate drug screening for myopia control by using zebrafish, mouse, and Golden Syrian Hamster myopia models

Background

We developed a preclinical protocol for the screening of candidate drugs able to control myopia and prevent its progression. The protocol uses zebrafish, C57BL/6 mice, and golden Syrian hamster models of myopia.

Methods

A morpholino (MO) targeting the zebrafish lumican gene (zlum) was injected into single-cell zebrafish embryos, causing excessive expansion of the sclera. A library of 640 compounds with 2 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors (marimastat and batimastat), which have the potential to modulate scleral remodelling, was screened to identify candidates for mitigating scleral diameter expansion in zlum-MO-injected embryos. The myopia-prevention ability of compounds discovered to have superior potency to inhibit scleral expansion was validated over 4 weeks in 4-week-old C57BL/6 mice and 3-week-old golden Syrian hamsters with form-deprivation myopia (FDM). Changes in the refractive error and axial length were investigated. Scleral thickness, morphology of collagen fibrils in the posterior sclera, messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions, and protein levels of transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, and collagen, type I, alpha 1 (collagen Iα1) were investigated in C57BL/6 mice, and MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP activity assays were conducted in these mice.

Findings

In the zebrafish experiment, atropine, marimastat, batimastat, doxycycline, and minocycline were the drugs that most effectively reduced expansion of scleral equatorial diameter. After 28-day treatment in diffuser-wearing mice and 21-day treatment in lid-sutured hamsters, myopic shift and axial elongation were significantly mitigated by eye drops containing 1% atropine, 50 µM marimastat, 5 µM batimastat, or 200 µM doxycycline. MMP-2 mRNA expression in mouse sclera was lower after treatment with atropine, marimastat, batimastat, or doxycycline. The protein levels and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-7 were significantly reduced after treatment with atropine, marimastat, batimastat, doxycycline, and minocycline. Furthermore, scleral thickness and collagen fibril diameter were not lower after treatment with atropine, marimastat, batimastat, or doxycycline than those of occluded eyes.

Interpretation

Stepwise drug screening in a range of models from zlum-MO-injected zebrafish to rodent FDM models identified effective compounds for preclinical myopia control or prevention. On the basis of the 640 compounds that were screened, MMP inhibitors may offer alternatives for clinical trials.

Funding

This research was supported by grants from Taiwan's Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Diffusion and Protein Corona Formation of Lipid-Based Nanoparticles in the Vitreous Humor: Profiling and Pharmacokinetic Considerations

The vitreous humor is the first barrier encountered by intravitreally injected nanoparticles. Lipid-based nanoparticles in the vitreous are studied by evaluating their diffusion with single-particle tracking technology and by characterizing their protein coronae with surface plasmon resonance and high-resolution proteomics. Single-particle tracking results indicate that the vitreal mobility of the formulations is dependent on their charge. Anionic and neutral formulations are mobile, whereas larger (>200 nm) neutral particles have restricted diffusion, and cationic particles are immobilized in the vitreous. PEGylation increases the mobility of cationic and larger neutral formulations but does not affect anionic and smaller neutral particles. Convection has a significant role in the pharmacokinetics of nanoparticles, whereas diffusion drives the transport of antibodies. Surface plasmon resonance studies determine that the vitreal corona of anionic formulations is sparse. Proteomics data reveals 76 differentially abundant proteins, whose enrichment is specific to either the hard or the soft corona. PEGylation does not affect protein enrichment. This suggests that protein-specific rather than formulation-specific factors are drivers of protein adsorption on nanoparticles in the vitreous. In summary, our findings contribute to understanding the pharmacokinetics of nanoparticles in the vitreous and help advance the development of nanoparticle-based treatments for eye diseases.

Gene Editing in Rabbits: Unique Opportunities for Translational Biomedical Research

The rabbit is a classic animal model for biomedical research, but the production of gene targeted transgenic rabbits had been extremely challenging until the recent advent of gene editing tools. More than fifty gene knockout or knock-in rabbit models have been reported in the past decade. Gene edited (GE) rabbit models, compared to their counterpart mouse models, may offer unique opportunities in translational biomedical research attributed primarily to their relatively large size and long lifespan. More importantly, GE rabbit models have been found to mimic several disease pathologies better than their mouse counterparts particularly in fields focused on genetically inherited diseases, cardiovascular diseases, ocular diseases, and others. In this review we present selected examples of research areas where GE rabbit models are expected to make immediate contributions to the understanding of the pathophysiology of human disease, and support the development of novel therapeutics.

High-pH reversed-phase fractionated neural retina proteome of normal growing C57BL/6 mouse

The retina is a key sensory tissue composed of multiple layers of cell populations that work coherently to process and decode visual information. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach has allowed high-throughput, untargeted protein identification, demonstrating the presence of these proteins in the retina and their involvement in biological signalling cascades. The comprehensive wild-type mouse retina proteome was prepared using a novel sample preparation approach, the suspension trapping (S-Trap) filter, and further fractionated with high-pH reversed phase chromatography involving a total of 28 injections. This data-dependent acquisition (DDA) approach using a Sciex TripleTOF 6600 mass spectrometer identified a total of 7,122 unique proteins (1% FDR), and generated a spectral library of 5,950 proteins in the normal C57BL/6 mouse retina. Data-independent acquisition (DIA) approach relies on a large and high-quality spectral library to analyse chromatograms, this spectral library would enable access to SWATH-MS acquisition to provide unbiased, multiplexed, and quantification of proteins in the mouse retina, acting as the most extensive reference library to investigate retinal diseases using the C57BL/6 mouse model.

An eye on the dog as the scientist's best friend for translational research in ophthalmology: Focus on the ocular surface

Preclinical animal studies provide valuable opportunities to better understand human diseases and contribute to major advances in medicine. This review provides a comprehensive overview of ocular parameters in humans and selected animals, with a focus on the ocular surface, detailing species differences in ocular surface anatomy, physiology, tear film dynamics and tear film composition. We describe major pitfalls that tremendously limit the translational potential of traditional laboratory animals (i.e., rabbits, mice, and rats) in ophthalmic research, and highlight the benefits of integrating companion dogs with clinical analogues to human diseases into preclinical pharmacology studies. This One Health approach can help accelerate and improve the framework in which ophthalmic research is translated to the human clinic. Studies can be conducted in canine subjects with naturally occurring or noninvasively induced ocular surface disorders (e.g., dry eye disease, conjunctivitis), reviewed herein, and tear fluid can be easily retrieved from canine eyes for various bioanalytical purposes. In this review, we discuss common tear collection methods, including capillary tubes and Schirmer tear strips, and provide guidelines for tear sampling and extraction to improve the reliability of analyte quantification (drugs, proteins, others).

Multi-parametric MRI of the physiology and optics of the in-vivo mouse lens

The optics of the ocular lens are determined by its geometry (shape and volume) and its inherent gradient of refractive index (water to protein ratio), which are in turn maintained by unique cellular physiology known as the lens internal microcirculation system. Previously, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used on ex vivo organ cultured bovine lenses to show that pharmacological perturbations to this microcirculation system disrupt ionic and fluid homeostasis and overall lens optics. In this study, we have optimised in vivo MRI protocols for use on wild-type and transgenic mouse models so that the effects of genetically perturbing the lens microcirculation system on lens properties can be studied. In vivo MRI protocols and post-analysis methods for studying the mouse lens were optimised and used to measure the lens geometry, diffusion, T1 and T2, as well as the refractive index (n) calculated from T2, in wild-type mice and the genetically modified Cx50KI46 mouse. In this animal line, gap junctional coupling in the lens is increased by knocking in the gap junction protein Cx46 into the Cx50 locus. Relative to wild-type mice, Cx50KI46 mice showed significantly reduced lens size and radius of curvature, increased T1 and T2 values, and decreased n in the lens nucleus, which was consistent with the developmental and functional changes characterised previously in this lens model. These proof of principle experiments show that in vivo MRI can be applied to transgenic mouse models to gain mechanistic insights into the relationship between lens physiology and optics, and in the future suggest that longitudinal studies can be performed to determine how this relationship is altered by age in mouse models of cataract.

Myopia disease mouse models: a missense point mutation (S673G) and a protein-truncating mutation of the Zfp644 mimic human disease phenotype

Zinc finger 644 (Zfp644 in mouse, ZNF644 in human) gene is a transcription factor whose mutation S672G is considered a potential genetic factor of inherited high myopia. ZNF644 interacts with G9a/GLP complex, which functions as a H3K9 methyltransferase to silence transcription. In this study, we generated mouse models to unravel the mechanisms leading to symptoms associated with high myopia. Employing TALEN technology, two mice mutants were generated, either with the disease-carrying mutation (Zfp644^S673G) or with a truncated form of Zfp644 (Zfp644^Δ8). Eye morphology and visual functions were analysed in both mutants, revealing a significant difference in a vitreous chamber depth and lens diameter, however the physiological function of retina was preserved as found under the high-myopia conditions. Our findings prove that ZNF644/Zfp644 is involved in the development of high-myopia, indicating that mutations such as, Zfp644^S673G and Zfp644^Δ8 are causative for changes connected with the disease. The developed models represent a valuable tool to investigate the molecular basis of myopia pathogenesis and its potential treatment.

Natural image and receptive field statistics predict saccade sizes

Humans and other primates sample the visual environment using saccadic eye movements that shift a high-resolution fovea toward regions of interest to create a clear perception of a scene across fixations. Many mammals, however, like mice, lack a fovea, which raises the question of why they make saccades. Here we describe and test the hypothesis that saccades are matched to natural scene statistics and to the receptive field sizes and adaptive properties of neural populations. Specifically, we determined the minimum amplitude of saccades in natural scenes necessary to provide uncorrelated inputs to model neural populations. This analysis predicts the distributions of observed saccade sizes during passive viewing for nonhuman primates, cats, and mice. Furthermore, disrupting the development of receptive field properties by monocular deprivation changed saccade sizes consistent with this hypothesis. Therefore, natural-scene statistics and the neural representation of natural images appear to be critical factors guiding saccadic eye movements.

Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography imaging of the anterior mouse eye

Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) enables noninvasive, high-resolution imaging of tissue polarization properties. In the anterior segments of human eyes, PS-OCT allows the visualization of birefringent and depolarizing structures. We present the use of PS-OCT for imaging the murine anterior eye. Using a spectral domain PS-OCT setup operating in the 840-nm regime, we performed in vivo volumetric imaging in anesthetized C57BL/6 mice. The polarization properties of murine anterior eye structures largely replicated those known from human PS-OCT imagery, suggesting that the mouse eye may also serve as a model system under polarization contrast. However, dissimilarities were found in the depolarizing structure of the iris which, as we confirmed in postmortem histological sections, were caused by anatomical differences between both species. In addition to the imaging of tissues in the anterior chamber and the iridocorneal angle, we demonstrate longitudinal PS-OCT imaging of the murine anterior segment during mydriasis as well as birefringence imaging of corneal pathology in an aged mouse.

The effect of topical administration of cyclopentolate on ocular biometry: An analysis for mouse and human models

Mydriasis with muscarinic antagonists have been used routinely prior to retinal examination and sometimes prior to refractive measurements of the mouse eye. However, biometric changes during topical administration of muscarinic antagonists have not been fully investigated in mice and humans. We found that the mouse eyes treated with cyclopentolate developed a hyperopia with a reduction in both the vitreous chamber depth and axial length. In humans, prior to the cyclopentolate treatment, a 6D accommodative stimulus produced a myopic shift with a reduced anterior chamber depth, choroidal thickness and anterior lens radius of curvature and an increase in lens thickness. After the cyclopentolate treatment, human eyes developed a hyperopic shift with an increased anterior chamber depth and anterior lens radius of curvature and a reduced lens thickness. Therefore, the biometric changes associated with this hyperopic shift were mainly located in the posterior segment of the eye in mice. However, it is the anterior segment of the eye that plays a main role in the hyperopic shift in human subjects. These results further indicate that mouse eyes do not have accommodation which needs to be taken into account when they are used for the study of human refractive errors.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Mutation Leads to Myopia Development in Mice

Myopia incidence in China is rapidly becoming a very serious sight compromising problem in a large segment of the general population. Therefore, delineating the underlying mechanisms leading to myopia will markedly lessen the likelihood of other sight compromising complications. In this regard, there is some evidence that patients afflicted with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), havean adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) mutation and a higher incidence of myopia. To clarify this possible association, we determined whether the changes in pertinent biometric and biochemical parameters underlying postnatal refractive error development in APC^Min mice are relevant for gaining insight into the pathogenesis of this disease in humans. The refraction and biometrics in APC^Min mice and age-matched wild-type (WT) littermates between postnatal days P28 and P84 were examined with eccentric infrared photorefraction (EIR) and customized optical coherence tomography (OCT). Compared with WT littermates, the APC^Min mutated mice developed myopia (average -4.64 D) on P84 which was associated with increased vitreous chamber depth (VCD). Furthermore, retinal and scleral changes appear in these mice along with: 1) axial length shortening; 2) increased retinal cell proliferation; 3) and decreased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression, the rate-limiting enzyme of DA synthesis. Scleral collagen fibril diameters became heterogeneous and irregularly organized in the APC^Min mice. Western blot analysis showed that scleral alpha-1 type I collagen (col1α1) expression also decreased whereas MMP2 and MMP9 mRNA expression was invariant. These results indicate that defective APC gene function promotes refractive error development. By characterizing in APC^Min mice ocular developmental changes, this approach provides novel insight into underlying pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to human myopia development.

Retinal thickness measurement obtained with spectral domain optical coherence tomography assisted optical biopsy accurately correlates with ex vivo histology

BACKGROUND

This study determines 'correlation constants' between the gold standard histological measurement of retinal thickness and the newer spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) technology in adult C57BL/6 mice.

METHODS

Forty-eight eyes from adult mice underwent SD-OCT imaging and then were histologically prepared for frozen sectioning with H&E staining. Retinal thickness was measured via 10x light microscopy. SD-OCT images and histological sections were standardized to three anatomical sites relative to the optic nerve head (ONH) location. The ratios between SD-OCT to histological thickness for total retinal thickness (TRT) and six sublayers were defined as 'correlation constants'.

RESULTS

Mean (± SE) TRT for SD-OCT and histological sections was 210.95 µm (± 1.09) and 219.58 µm (± 2.67), respectively. The mean 'correlation constant' for TRT between the SD-OCT and histological sections was 0.96. The retinal thickness for all sublayers measured by SD-OCT vs. histology were also similar, the 'correlation constant' values ranged from 0.70 to 1.17. All SD-OCT and histological measurements demonstrated highly significant (p<0.01) strong positive correlations.

CONCLUSION

This study establishes conversion factors for the translation of ex vivo data into in vivo information; thus enhancing the applicability of SD-OCT in translational research.

Development of a rat schematic eye from in vivo biometry and the correction of lateral magnification in SD-OCT imaging

PURPOSE

Optical magnification in optical coherence tomography (OCT) depends on ocular biometric parameters (e.g., axial length). Biometric differences between eyes will influence scan location. A schematic model eye was developed to compensate for lateral magnification in OCT images of the healthy rat.

METHODS

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images were acquired in 19 eyes of 19 brown Norway rats. Images were scaled using the OCT instrument's built-in scaling function and by calculating the micron per degree from schematic model eyes developed from in vivo biometry (immersion A-scan and videokeratometry). Mean total retinal thickness was measured 500 μm away from the optic nerve head and optic nerve head diameter was measured. Corneal curvature, lens thickness, and axial length were modified to calculate their effects on OCT scan location and total retinal thickness.

RESULTS

Mean total retinal thickness increased by 21 μm and the SD doubles when images were scaled with the Built-in scaling (222 ± 13 μm) compared with scaling with individual biometric parameters (201 ± 6 μm). Optic nerve head diameter was three times larger when images were scaled with the Built-in scaling (925 ± 97 μm) than the individual biometric parameters (300 ± 27 μm). Assuming no other change in biometric parameters, total retinal thickness would decrease by 37 μm for every millimeter increase in anterior chamber depth due to changes in ocular lateral magnification and associated change in scan location.

CONCLUSIONS

Scaling SD-OCT images with schematic model eyes derived from individual biometric data is important. This approach produces estimates of retinal thickness and optic nerve head size that are in good agreement with previously reported measurements.

Investigating mechanisms of myopia in mice

Genetic and environmental factors have been shown to control visually-guided eye growth and influence myopia development. However, investigations into the intersection of these two factors in controlling refractive development have been limited by the lack of a genetically modifiable animal model. Technological advances have now made it possible to assess refractive state and ocular biometry in the small mouse eye and therefore to exploit the many genetic mouse mutants to investigate mechanisms of visually-guided eye growth. This review considers the benefits and challenges of studying refractive development in mice, compares the results of refractive error and ocular biometry from wild-type strains and genetic models in normal laboratory visual environments or with disrupted visual input, and discusses some of the remaining challenges in interpreting data from the mouse to validate and standardize methods between labs.

Single-shot dimension measurements of the mouse eye using SD-OCT

The authors demonstrate the feasibility and advantage of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for single-shot ocular biometric measurement during the development of the mouse eye. A high-resolution SD-OCT system was built for single-shot imaging of the whole mouse eye in vivo. The axial resolution and imaging depth of the system are 4.5 μm (in tissue) and 5.2 mm, respectively. The system is capable of acquiring a cross-sectional OCT image consisting of 2,048 depth scans in 85 ms. The imaging capability of the SD-OCT system was validated by imaging the normal ocular growth and experimental myopia model using C57BL/6J mice. The biometric dimensions of the mouse eye can be calculated directly from one snapshot of the SD-OCT image. The biometric parameters of the mouse eye including axial length, corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, vitreous chamber depth, and retinal thickness were successfully measured by the SD-OCT. In the normal ocular growth group, the axial length increased significantly from 28 to 82 days of age (P < .001). The lens thickness increased and the vitreous chamber depth decreased significantly during this period (P < .001 and P = .001, respectively). In the experimental myopia group, there were significant increases in vitreous chamber depth and axial length in comparison to the control eyes (P = .040 and P < .001, respectively). SD-OCT is capable of providing single-shot direct, fast, and high-resolution measurements of the dimensions of young and adult mouse eyes. As a result, SD-OCT is a potentially powerful tool that can be easily applied to research in eye development and myopia using small animal models.

Identification of multipotent stem/progenitor cells in murine sclera

PURPOSE

The sclera forms the fibrous outer coat of the eyeball and acts as a supportive framework. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the sclera contains mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells.

METHOD

Scleral tissue from C57BL6/J mice was separated from the retina and choroid and subsequently enzyme digested to release single cells. Proliferation capacity, self-renewal capacity, and ability for multipotent differentiation were analyzed by BrdU labeling, flow cytometry, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, immunocytochemistry, and in vivo transplantation.

RESULTS

The scleral stem/progenitor cells (SSPCs) possessed clonogenic and high doubling capacities. These cells were positive for the mesenchymal markers Sca-1, CD90.2, CD44, CD105, and CD73 and negative for the hematopoietic markers CD45, CD11b, Flk1, CD34, and CD117. In addition to expressing stem cell genes ABCG2, Six2, Notch1, and Pax6, SSPCs were able to differentiate to adipogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic lineages.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that the sclera contains multipotent mesenchymal stem cells. Further study of SSPCs may help elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanism of scleral diseases such as scleritis and myopia.

Heritability of ocular component dimensions in mice phenotyped using depth-enhanced swept source optical coherence tomography

The range of genetic and genomic resources available makes the mouse a powerful model for the genetic dissection of complex traits. Because accurate, high-throughput phenotypic characterisation is crucial to the success of such endeavours, we recently developed an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system with extended depth range scanning capability for measuring ocular component dimensions in mice. In order to test whether the accuracy and reproducibility of our OCT system was sufficient for gene mapping studies, we carried out an experiment designed to estimate the heritability of mouse ocular component dimensions. High-resolution, two dimensional tomograms were obtained for both eyes of 11 pairs of 8 week-old outbred MF1 mice. Subsequently, images were obtained when their offspring were aged 8 weeks. Biometric data were extracted after image segmentation, reconstruction of the geometric shape of each surface, and calculation of intraocular distances. The repeatability of measurements was evaluated for 12 mice scanned on consecutive days. Heritability estimates were calculated using variance components analysis. Sets of tomograms took ∼2 s to acquire. Biometric data could be obtained for 98% of the 130 eyes scanned. The 95% limits of repeatability ranged from ±6 to ±16 μm for the axial ocular component dimensions. The heritability of the axial ocular components was 0.6-0.8, except for corneal thickness, which had a heritability not significantly different from zero. In conclusion, axial ocular component dimensions are highly heritable in mice, as they are in humans. OCT with extended depth range scanning can be used to rapidly phenotype individual mice with sufficient accuracy and precision to permit gene mapping studies.

Postnatal elongation of eye size in DBA/2J mice compared with C57BL/6J mice: in vivo analysis with whole-eye OCT

PURPOSE

To characterize postnatal changes in eye size in glaucomatous DBA/2J (D2) mice and in nonglaucomatous C57BL/6J mice (B6) in vivo by means of whole-eye optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

D2 (n = 32) and B6 (n = 36) mice were tested between 2 and 20 months of age in eight age bins. A custom time-domain OCT system with a center wavelength of 825 nm and an axial scan length of 7.1 mm produced axial A-scan interferograms at a rate of 20 A-lines/s with a resolution of 8 μm. Axial length (AL), corneal thickness (CT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), vitreous chamber depth (VCD), and retinal thickness (RT) were measured in the optical axis and adjusted with corresponding refractive indices. Corneal curvature (CC) and IOP were also measured.

RESULTS

AL increased (P < 0.001) more in the D2 (21%) than in the B6 (9%) mice. There was an interaction effect (two-way ANOVA, P < 0.001) between age and strain for AL, CT, ACD, and VCD. In the D2 mice, the lens became dislocated posteriorly. Multiple regression analysis in the D2 mice revealed an independent effect of age and IOP (P ≤ 0.01) on axial length. CC steepened in the older D2 mice, whereas it flattened in the B6 mice.

CONCLUSIONS

In D2 mice, postnatal elongation of AL is larger than that in B6 mice and is associated with a greater increase in ACD and IOP, which seems to be a causal factor. The ease of use, short acquisition time, and noninvasiveness of whole-eye OCT make it suitable for routine use in longitudinal studies of mouse models.

Optical coherence tomography: history, current status, and laboratory work

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging has become widespread in ophthalmology over the past 15 years, because of its ability to visualize ocular structures at high resolution. This article reviews the history of OCT imaging of the eye, its current status, and the laboratory work that is driving the future of the technology.

Highly reproducible swept-source, dispersion-encoded full-range biometry and imaging of the mouse eye

We report a high-speed, dispersion-encoded, full-range (DEFR) swept-source optical coherence tomography system for in vivo ocular imaging and biometry of small animals. The fast DEFR algorithm removes the depth ambiguity, gives access to objects located at the zero delay position, and doubles the sampling depth to 2x5.0 mm (at -101 to -71 dB sensitivity) in a single scan using 2048 samples/depth scan 0.43 nm line width of a light source operating at 1056 nm with 70 nm tuning range. The acquisition speed (frames of 512 depth scans in 18.3 ms) permits precise on-line monitoring during positioning and provides cross-sectional views of the mouse eye. Preliminary studies demonstrate high-throughput, reproducible assessment of multiple biometric features (e.g., day-to-day reproducibility of axial length measurement +/-5.3 microm) that is insensitive to eye motion sufficient for long-term monitoring.

Genetic deletion of the adenosine A2A receptor confers postnatal development of relative myopia in mice

PURPOSE

To critically evaluate whether the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) plays a role in postnatal refractive development in mice.

METHODS

Custom-built biometric systems specifically designed for mice were used to assess the development of relative myopia by examining refraction and biometrics in A2AR knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates between postnatal days (P)28 and P56. Ocular dimensions were measured by customized optical coherence tomography (OCT), refractive state by eccentric infrared photorefraction (EIR), and corneal radius of curvature by modified keratometry. Scleral collagen diameter and density were examined by electron microscopy on P35. The effect of A2AR activation on collagen mRNA expression and on soluble collagen production was examined in cultured human scleral fibroblasts by real-time RT-PCR and a collagen assay kit.

RESULTS

Compared with WT littermates, the A2AR KO mice displayed relative myopia (average difference, 5.1 D between P28 and P35) and associated increases in VC depth and axial length from P28 to P56. Furthermore, the myopic shift in A2AR KO mice was associated with ultrastructural changes in the sclera: Electron microscopy revealed denser collagen fibrils with reduced diameter in A2AR KO compared with WT. Last, A2AR activation induced expression of mRNAs for collagens I, III, and V and increased production of soluble collagen in cultured human scleral fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic deletion of the A2AR promotes development of relative myopia with increased axial length and altered scleral collagen fiber structure during postnatal development in mice. Thus, the A2AR may be important in normal refractive development.

Sonic hedgehog expression and its role in form-deprivation myopia in mice

PURPOSE

To investigate whether sonic hedgehog (Shh) plays a role in postnatal eye development and the development of experimentally induced myopia.

METHODS

Expression of Shh, Patched-1 (Ptc-1), and Gli3 was evaluated in the eyes of 13- to 14-day-old C57B/L6 mice with form-deprivation myopia (FDM) (n = 100) and controls (n = 100) using real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. In a second experiment, 336 mice were divided into two groups: the first wore a unilateral translucent diffuser to induce myopia and the second served as a control. Both groups received four intravitreal injections of either Shh-N (Sonic hedgehog amino-terminal peptide) or cyclopamine (a specific inhibitor of the Shh pathway) every other day. Retinoscopic refraction and axial length measurements were performed on the 11th day of form deprivation. Sections of the eyes were observed using a light microscope.

RESULTS

Inducing myopia caused a significant increase in expression of Shh mRNA (7 days: t = 6.09, p = 0.004; 14 days: t = 3.48, p = 0.025) and protein (7 days: t = 4.06, p = 0.015; 14 days: t = 4.25, p = 0.013). Expression of both Gli3 mRNA (t = 7.61, p = 0.002) and protein (t = 2.89, p = 0.045) increased after 7 days of occlusion. Administration of Shh-N stimulated the development of myopia and axial growth in both occluded (refraction: F = 7.49, p = 0.001; axial length: F = 9.89, p < 0.001) and non-occluded eyes (refraction: F = 14.20, p < 0.001; axial length: F = 20.37, p < 0.001). Cyclopamine reduced myopic refractive error and axial elongation in occluded eyes (refraction: F = 27.91, p < 0.001; axial length: F = 15.18, p < 0.001). It also influenced non-occluded eyes, reducing axial growth and shifting the refraction toward hyperopia (refraction: F = 14.81, p < 0.001; axial length: F = 3.99, p = 0.024). No difference in retinal thickness was found between experimental and control eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

The Shh signaling pathway may influence both form-deprivation myopia and the postnatal growth of eyes with normal visual input.

Relative axial myopia induced by prolonged light exposure in C57BL/6 mice

Ambient lighting is essential for ocular development in many species, however, disruption in diurnal lighting cycle can affect the development in refraction and axial growth of the eye. This study investigated the effects of prolonged daily lighting on refraction and various optical components of the eye by raising C57BL/6 mice under three different light/dark cycles (18/6, 12/12 and 6/18). Egr-1 mRNA expression, apoptosis and histology of the retina and size of the scleral fibrils were evaluated in these three lighting cycles. Results showed that there was a trend of myopic development, increasing vitreous chamber depth and thinning of the retina in eyes from 6/18 to 18/6 groups. Retinal Egr-1 mRNA expression and diameter of scleral fibrils were reduced with the prolongation of daily lighting from 6/18 to 18/6. However, retinal apoptosis was not detected in all the groups. These results suggest that prolonged lighting can induce axial myopia in inbred mice. This model, which uses mice with similar genetic backgrounds, provides an alternative to the currently available models and therefore is useful for evaluation of refractive errors caused by changes in environmental illumination.

Genetic dependence of central corneal thickness among inbred strains of mice

PURPOSE

Central corneal thickness (CCT) exhibits broad variability. For unknown reasons, CCT also associates with diseases not typically considered corneal, particularly glaucoma. The purpose of this study was to test the strain dependence of CCT variability among inbred mice and identify cellular and molecular factors associated with differing CCT.

METHODS

Methodology for measuring murine CCT with ultrasound pachymetry was developed and used to measure CCT among 17 strains of mice. Corneas from three strains with nonoverlapping differences in CCT (C57BLKS/J, C57BL/6J, and SJL/J) were compared by histology, transmission electron microscopy, and expression profiling with gene microarrays.

RESULTS

CCT in mice was highly strain dependent. CCT exhibited continuous variation from 89.2 microm in C57BLKS/J to 123.8 microm in SJL/J. Stromal thickness was the major determinant of the varying murine CCT, with epithelial thickness also contributing. Corneal expression levels of many genes differed between strains with differing CCT, but most of these changes did not correlate with the changes observed in previously studied corneal diseases nor did they correlate with genes encoding major structural proteins of the cornea.

CONCLUSIONS

Murine CCT has been measured with a variety of different techniques, but only among a limited number of different strains. Here, pachymetry was established as an additional tool and used to conduct a broad survey of different strains of inbred mice. These results demonstrated that murine CCT was highly influenced by genetic background and established a baseline for future genetic approaches to further elucidate mechanisms regulating CCT and its disease associations.

Retinal ion regulation in a mouse model of diabetic retinopathy: natural history and the effect of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase overexpression

PURPOSE

To test the hypotheses that manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) is useful in evaluating intraretinal ion dysregulation in wild-type (WT) and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) overexpressor mice.

METHODS

Central intraretinal ion activity and retinal thickness were measured from high-resolution data of light- and dark-adapted WT C57BL/6 mice (to gauge MEMRI sensitivity to normal visual processing in mice) and dark-adapted diabetic and nondiabetic WT and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase overexpressor (SOD1OE) mice. Glycated hemoglobin and retinal vascular histopathology were also determined.

RESULTS

In WT mice, light adaptation reduced outer retinal manganese uptake compared with that in dark adaptation; no effect on inner retinal uptake was found. In diabetic WT mice, intraretinal manganese uptake became subnormal between 1.5 and 4 months of diabetes onset and then relatively increased. Central retinal thickness, as determined with MEMRI, decreased as a function of age in diabetic mice but remained constant in control mice. Nondiabetic SOD1OE mice had normal retinal manganese uptake but subnormal retinal thickness and supernormal acellular capillary density. At 4.2 months of diabetes, SOD1OE mice had normal manganese uptake and no further thinning; acellular capillaries frequency did not increase by 9 to 10 months of diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

In emerging diabetic retinopathy, MEMRI provided an analytic measure of an ionic dysregulatory pattern that was sensitive to SOD1 overexpression. The potential benefit of SOD1 overexpression to inhibit retinal abnormality in this model is limited by the retinal and vascular degeneration that develops independently of diabetes.