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Estay-Ahumada CE, Verra DM, Roux M, Sassone F, Felder-Schmittbuhl MP, Klopp C, Ciocca D, Moal MLL, Hicks D. Hyperglycemia and circadian disruption lead to retinal dysfunction in a stabilized colony of the fat sand rat Psammomys obesus. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167118. [PMID: 38490291 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Fat Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus) recapitulates several features of human pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, but data are restricted to wild animals, incompatible with stringent biomedical research criteria. To overcome this barrier, we characterized retinal changes in a colony of P. obsesus maintained under strictly controlled housing conditions. METHODS Animals were maintained on low or high caloric energy diets, and raised under either standard (12 h light/12 h dark) or shortened (5 h light/5 h dark) photoperiods. Visual responses were tested by electroretinography, while structural/molecular changes were assayed by immunochemistry and molecular biology (RNAseq and qPCR). RESULTS Whereas high calorie diet alone did not induce hyperglycemia, coupled with short photoperiod >80 % animals developed severe hyper-insulinemia by 15 weeks, and 16 % animals further developed hyperglycemia. In these groups, electroretinography showed significant declines in visual responses in both hyper-insulinemic and hyperglycemic animals, especially in photopic (cone) responses. Transcriptomics analysis of hyperglycemic compared to low caloric controls revealed major upregulation in pathways involved in glial activation, extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammation, cytokine production, partial ischemic responses and angiogenesis. Western blotting against rhodopsin and cone opsin also showed decreased levels in both groups, overall decreases being greater for cones than rods in hyperglycemic animals. CONCLUSIONS P. obesus maintained in rigorously monitored captive conditions, albeit showing attenuated responses to dietary overload compared to wild counterparts, nevertheless do develop some retinal features of diabetic retinopathy-like degeneration. Such a colony with known sanitary status opens their broader use for biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Estay-Ahumada
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives CNRS UPR 3212, 8 Allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Daniela M Verra
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives CNRS UPR 3212, 8 Allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Michel Roux
- IGBMC - CNRS UMR 7104 Inserm U 1258, 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP 10142, 67404 Illkirch CEDEX, France.
| | - Fabiana Sassone
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives CNRS UPR 3212, 8 Allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Marie-Paule Felder-Schmittbuhl
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives CNRS UPR 3212, 8 Allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Christophe Klopp
- Sigenae, Genotoul Bioinfo, BioInfoMics, MIAT UR875, INRAE, Castanet Tolosan, France.
| | - Dominique Ciocca
- Chronobiotron CNRS UMR 3415, 8 Allée Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Myriam Ly-Le Moal
- Institut Roche, 4 cours de l'île Seguin, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
| | - David Hicks
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives CNRS UPR 3212, 8 Allée du Général Rouvillois, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
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Günter A, Belhadj S, Seeliger MW, Mühlfriedel R. The Mongolian gerbil as an advanced model to study cone system physiology. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1339282. [PMID: 38333056 PMCID: PMC10850313 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1339282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In this work, we introduce a diurnal rodent, the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) (MG) as an alternative to study retinal cone system physiology and pathophysiology in mice. The cone system is of particular importance, as it provides high-acuity and color vision and its impairment in retinal disorders is thus especially disabling. Despite their nocturnal lifestyle, mice are currently the most popular animals to study cone-related diseases due to the high availability of genetically modified models. However, the potential for successful translation of any cone-related results is limited due to the substantial differences in retinal organization between mice and humans. Alternatively, there are diurnal rodents such as the MG with a higher retinal proportion of cones and a macula-like specialized region for improved visual resolution, the visual streak. The focus of this work was the evaluation of the MG's cone system functionality using full-field electroretinography (ERG), together with a morphological assessment of its retinal/visual streak organization via angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and photoreceptor immunohistochemistry. We found that rod system responses in MGs were comparable or slightly inferior to mice, while in contrast, cone system responses were much larger, more sensitive, and also faster than those in the murine counterparts, and in addition, it was possible to record sizeable ON and OFF ERG components. Morphologically, MG cone photoreceptor opsins were evenly distributed throughout the retina, while mice show a dorsoventral M- and S-opsin gradient. Additionally, each cone expressed a single opsin, in contrast to the typical co-expression of opsins in mice. Particular attention was given to the visual streak region, featuring a higher density of cones, elongated cone and rod outer segments (OSs), and an increased thickness of the inner and outer retinal layers in comparison to peripheral regions. In summary, our data render the MG a supreme model to investigate cone system physiology, pathophysiology, and to validate potential therapeutic strategies in that context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Günter
- Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Dellaa A, Mbarek S, Kahloun R, Dogui M, Khairallah M, Hammoum I, Rayana-Chekir NB, Charfeddine R, Lachapelle P, Chaouacha-Chekir RB. Functional alterations of retinal neurons and vascular involvement progress simultaneously in the Psammomys obesus model of diabetic retinopathy. J Comp Neurol 2021; 529:2620-2635. [PMID: 33474721 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a new diurnal animal model, we monitored clinically the DR in Psammomys obesus (P. obesus) during 7 months using electroretinography (ERG) and imaging techniques. After the onset of DR, all ERG components decreased progressively. In scotopic conditions, by 3-months of disease progression, the diabetic P. obesus displayed a significant decrease in amplitude of b-max, b-wave responses, and mixed b-waves. While mixed a-wave decreased between 4 and 7 months. Significant differences of OP2 appeared following 1 month of disease. In photopic conditions, we noticed a decrease in the a-wave at 2 months, while it took more than 5 months in b-wave amplitude. The photopic negative response (PhNR) and the i-wave amplitudes decreased following 4 and 5 months. OP1 and OP2 were the first to be altered and a significant decrease in the amplitude started after 3 months. Finally, 30 Hz-flicker and photopic S-cone were impaired after 2 and 3 months, respectively. The assessment of the eye fundus of the retina revealed an abnormal vascular architecture appeared at Months 6 and 7. In addition, we noticed exudates in the superior periphery of the retina at the same stage. The retina thickness showed a significant reduction at Month 7. Our results indicate that the clinical correlates of human DR are present in diabetic P. obesus. The depressed of ERGs, disruption of retinal architecture, and the appearance of exudates may reflect vascular and neuronal damage throughout the retina as are seen in the advanced stages of human DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Dellaa
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, BiotechPole Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Sihem Mbarek
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, BiotechPole Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Rim Kahloun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital of Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Dogui
- Department of Functional Explorations of the Nervous System, Hospital of Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Moncef Khairallah
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital of Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Imane Hammoum
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, BiotechPole Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Narjess Ben Rayana-Chekir
- Les Ophtalmologistes Associés de Sousse, Résidence Médicale Essalem, Place du Maghreb Arabe-Sousse, Tunisia
| | | | - Pierre Lachapelle
- Department of Ophthalmology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rafika Ben Chaouacha-Chekir
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, BiotechPole Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Tunisia
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Benlarbi‐Ben Khedher M, Hajri K, Dellaa A, Baccouche B, Hammoum I, Boudhrioua‐Mihoubi N, Dhifi W, Ben Chaouacha‐Chekir R. Astaxanthin inhibits aldose reductase activity in Psammomys obesus, a model of type 2 diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. Food Sci Nutr 2019; 7:3979-3985. [PMID: 31890176 PMCID: PMC6924305 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.1259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Astaxanthin (ATX) is a marine carotenoid known for its powerful antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. In this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo potential inhibitory effect of ATX on the aldose reductase (AR) activity, a key enzyme in the polyol pathway responsible for the pathogenesis of diabetic complications including diabetic retinopathy (DR). The gerbil Psammomys obesus (P. ob.), an animal model for type 2 diabetes and DR has been used. The erythrocyte and retinal AR activity of P. ob. individuals were, respectively, assessed monthly and at the 7th month during a 7-month hypercaloric diet (HD) using a NADPH oxidation method. Meanwhile, the body weight and blood glucose of the gerbils were monitored. After 7 months, P. ob. individuals were fed with ATX (4.8 mg/kg of body weight) once a day for 1 week. The results showed that the HD-fed animals developed significant obesity and hyperglycemia in comparison with controls. Erythrocyte AR activity showed a progressive and significant increase in the HD-fed group compared with controls. Retinal AR activity was higher in the 7-month HD-fed group compared with controls. Erythrocyte AR activity was markedly decreased after ATX-treatment in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggested that ATX inhibited the erythrocyte AR activity and could be used for DR prevention and/or early treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Benlarbi‐Ben Khedher
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules (PAB): LR17ES03The High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet (ISBST)University of Manouba (UMA)Sidi ThabetTunisia
| | - Khouloud Hajri
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules (PAB): LR17ES03The High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet (ISBST)University of Manouba (UMA)Sidi ThabetTunisia
| | - Ahmed Dellaa
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules (PAB): LR17ES03The High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet (ISBST)University of Manouba (UMA)Sidi ThabetTunisia
| | - Basma Baccouche
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules (PAB): LR17ES03The High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet (ISBST)University of Manouba (UMA)Sidi ThabetTunisia
| | - Imane Hammoum
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules (PAB): LR17ES03The High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet (ISBST)University of Manouba (UMA)Sidi ThabetTunisia
| | - Nourhene Boudhrioua‐Mihoubi
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules (PAB): LR17ES03The High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet (ISBST)University of Manouba (UMA)Sidi ThabetTunisia
| | - Wissal Dhifi
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules (PAB): LR17ES03The High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet (ISBST)University of Manouba (UMA)Sidi ThabetTunisia
| | - Rafika Ben Chaouacha‐Chekir
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules (PAB): LR17ES03The High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet (ISBST)University of Manouba (UMA)Sidi ThabetTunisia
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Verra DM, Sajdak BS, Merriman DK, Hicks D. Diurnal rodents as pertinent animal models of human retinal physiology and pathology. Prog Retin Eye Res 2019; 74:100776. [PMID: 31499165 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2019.100776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This presentation will survey the retinal architecture, advantages, and limitations of several lesser-known rodent species that provide a useful diurnal complement to rats and mice. These diurnal rodents also possess unusually cone-rich photoreceptor mosaics that facilitate the study of cone cells and pathways. Species to be presented include principally the Sudanian Unstriped Grass Rat and Nile Rat (Arvicanthis spp.), the Fat Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus), the degu (Octodon degus) and the 13-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus). The retina and optic nerve in several of these species demonstrate unusual resilience in the face of neuronal injury, itself an interesting phenomenon with potential translational value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela M Verra
- Department of Neurobiology of Rhythms, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (INCI), CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Dana K Merriman
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI, USA
| | - David Hicks
- Department of Neurobiology of Rhythms, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (INCI), CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France.
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Baccouche B, Benlarbi M, Barber AJ, Ben Chaouacha-Chekir R. Short-Term Administration of Astaxanthin Attenuates Retinal Changes in Diet-Induced Diabetic Psammomys obesus. Curr Eye Res 2018; 43:1177-1189. [PMID: 30028214 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2018.1484143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Psammomys obesus is a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed animal model of obesity and type 2 diabetes recently explored as a model of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. This study tested the protective effect of the pigment astaxanthin (AST) in the P. obesus diabetic retina. METHODS Young adult P. obesus were randomly assigned to two groups. The control group received a normal diet consisting of a plant-based regimen, and the HFD group received an enriched laboratory chow. After 3 months, control and diabetic rodents were administered vehicle or AST, daily for 7 days. Body weight, blood glucose, and plasma pentosidine were assessed. Frozen sections of retinas were immunolabeled for markers of oxidative stress, glial reactivity and retinal ganglion cell bodies, and imaged by confocal microscopy. RESULTS Retinal tissue from AST-treated control and HFD-diabetic P. obesus showed a greater expression of the antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). In retinas of HFD-diabetic AST-treated P. obesus, cellular retinaldehyde binding protein and glutamine synthetase in Müller cells were more intense compared to the untreated HFD-diabetic group. HFD-induced diabetes downregulated the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in astrocytes, the POU domain protein 3A in retinal ganglion cells, and synaptophysin throughout the plexiform layers. DISCUSSION Our results show that type 2-like diabetes induced by HFD affected glial and neuronal retinal cell homeostasis. AST treatment induced the antioxidant enzyme HO-1 and reduced glial reactivity. These findings suggest that diabetic P. obesus is a useful model of HFD-induced obesity and diabetes to evaluate early neuroglial retinal alterations and antioxidant neuroprotection mechanisms in DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basma Baccouche
- a Laboratoire de Physiopthologies , Alimentations et Biomolécules (PAB), Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sidi Thabet (ISBST), Univ Manouba (UMA), BiotechPole Sidi Thabet , Ariana , Tunisie
- b Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte (FSB) , Université de Carthage (UCAR) , Tunis , Tunisie
| | - Maha Benlarbi
- a Laboratoire de Physiopthologies , Alimentations et Biomolécules (PAB), Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sidi Thabet (ISBST), Univ Manouba (UMA), BiotechPole Sidi Thabet , Ariana , Tunisie
| | - Alistair J Barber
- c Department of Ophthalmology , Penn State Hershey Eye Center, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine , Hershey , PA , USA
| | - Rafika Ben Chaouacha-Chekir
- a Laboratoire de Physiopthologies , Alimentations et Biomolécules (PAB), Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sidi Thabet (ISBST), Univ Manouba (UMA), BiotechPole Sidi Thabet , Ariana , Tunisie
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Dellaa A, Benlarbi M, Hammoum I, Gammoudi N, Dogui M, Messaoud R, Azaiz R, Charfeddine R, Khairallah M, Lachapelle P, Ben Chaouacha-Chekir R. Electroretinographic evidence suggesting that the type 2 diabetic retinopathy of the sand rat Psammomys obesus is comparable to that of humans. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0192400. [PMID: 29420665 PMCID: PMC5805270 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Type 2 diabetic retinopathy is the main cause of acquired blindness in adults. The aim of this work was to examine the retinal function of the sand rat Psammomys obesus as an animal model of diet-induced type 2 diabetes when subjected to a hypercaloric regimen. Materials and methods Hyperglycemia was induced in Psammomys obesus by high caloric diet (4 kcal/g). The visual function of control (n = 7) and diabetic (n = 7) adult rodents were followed up during 28 consecutive weeks with full-field electroretinogram(ERG) recordings evoked to flashes of white light according to the standard protocol of the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision protocol (ISCEV). Results Twenty-eight weeks following the induction of diabetes, results revealed significantly reduced and delayed photopic and scotopic ERG responses in diabetic rats compared to control rats. More specifically, we noted a significant decrease in the amplitude of the dark-adapted 0.01ERG (62%), a- and b-wave amplitudes of the dark-adapted 3.0 ERG (33.6%, 55.1%) and the four major oscillatory potentials components (OP1-OP4) (39.0%, 75.2%, 54.8% and 53.7% respectively). In photopic conditions, diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in a- and b-wave (30.4%, 43.4%), photopic negative response (55.3%), 30 Hz flicker (63.7%), OP1-OP4(51.6%, 61.8%, 68.3% and 47.5% respectively) and S-cone (34.7%). Significantly delayed implicit times were observed for all ERG components in the diabetic animals. Results obtained are comparable to those characterizing the retinal function of patients affected with advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion Psammomys obesus is a useful translational model to study the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy in order to explore new therapeutic avenues in human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Dellaa
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules of the Higher Institute of Biotechnology Sidi Thabet, Manouba University, BiotechPole Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia
- Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Carthage University, Bizerte, Tunisia
| | - Maha Benlarbi
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules of the Higher Institute of Biotechnology Sidi Thabet, Manouba University, BiotechPole Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Imane Hammoum
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules of the Higher Institute of Biotechnology Sidi Thabet, Manouba University, BiotechPole Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Nouha Gammoudi
- Department of functional explorations of the nervous system, University Hospital of Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Dogui
- Department of functional explorations of the nervous system, University Hospital of Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Riadh Messaoud
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Rached Azaiz
- UNIMED Pharmaceutical Industry, industrial area Kalaa Kebira, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Ridha Charfeddine
- UNIMED Pharmaceutical Industry, industrial area Kalaa Kebira, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Moncef Khairallah
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Pierre Lachapelle
- Department of Ophthalmology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rafika Ben Chaouacha-Chekir
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Food and Biomolecules of the Higher Institute of Biotechnology Sidi Thabet, Manouba University, BiotechPole Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia
- * E-mail:
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