Ocular Hypertension/Glaucoma in Minipigs: Episcleral Veins Cauterization and Microbead Occlusion Methods

Two methods to induce elevation of the intraocular pressure (experimental glaucoma) are described in the present chapter. The first method is based on increasing the post-trabecular resistance to aqueous outflow by cauterizing the episcleral veins (EVC). This method allows the observation of ultrastructural changes in the trabecular meshwork (TM) without interfering with any structure within the eye such as TM, ciliary body, and/or the Retina. The second method is the multiple injection of microbeads into the anterior chamber, as a pre and intra-trabecular method that induce secondary effects on the TM cells. Both methods lead to an increase in IOP.

The pig eye as a novel model of glaucoma

We validated the pig eye as a model of glaucoma, based on chronic elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP was elevated by cauterising three episcleral veins in each of the left eyes of five adult pigs. Right eyes were used as controls. Measurement of IOP was performed during the experiment with an applanation tonometer (Tono-Pen). Five months after episcleral vein occlusion, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from both cauterised and control eyes were retrogradely backfilled with Fluoro-Gold. Analysis of RGC loss and morphometric as characterization of surviving RGCs was performed using whole-mounted retinas. Elevation of IOP was apparent after three weeks of episcleral vein cauterisation and it remained elevated for at least 21 weeks (duration of the experiments). Analysis of RGC loss after chronic elevation of IOP revealed that RGC death was significant in the mid-peripheral and peripheral retina, mainly in the temporal quadrants of both retinal regions. Moreover the mean soma area of remaining RGCs was observed to increase and we found a greater loss of large RGCs in the mid-peripheral and peripheral retina. We conclude that the pattern of RGC death induced in the pig retina by episcleral vein cauterisation resembles that found in human glaucoma. On the basis of this study, the pig retina may be considered as a suitable model for glaucoma-related studies, based on its similarity with human and on its affordability.

[Comparison of three methods of inducing chronic elevation of intraocular pressure in the pig (experimental glaucoma)]

PURPOSE

To compare three methods of inducing experimental glaucoma in the adult pig, based on achieving chronic elevation of the intraocular pressure (IOP).

METHODS

A total of 16 adult pigs were used in the present study. In all instances, the right eye was used as control and the left eye as the experimental eye. The animals were divided into three groups: 1) 3 pigs in which 3 episcleral veins were cauterized (experimental period = 21 weeks); 2) 6 animals in which the anterior chamber of the eye was injected with a solution containing latex fluorospheres (experimental period = 11 weeks); and 3) 4 pigs in which the anterior chamber of the eye was injected with a solution containing latex fluorospheres plus methylcellulose (experimental period = 11 weeks).

RESULTS

The episcleral vein cauterization was the only method which produced a sustained elevation of the IOP throughout most of the experimental period. Moreover, the elevation of the IOP achieved by this method resulted in selective retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss that affected mainly the mid-peripheral and peripheral retina and caused an increase in the mean soma area of the remaining RGCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Cauterization of the episcleral veins resulted in a significant and sustained elevation of the IOP and RGC loss when compared with the other two approaches tested in the present study, which barely modified the pig's RGC distribution. Thus, we conclude that the episcleral vein cauterization is the best of the methods tested to induce experimental glaucoma in the pig.