|
Title
|
|
|
|
Detailed functional and structural characterization of a macular lesion in a rhesus macaque
|
|
|
Author
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
| Purpose Animal models are powerful tools to broaden our understanding of disease mechanisms and to develop future treatment strategies. Here we present detailed structural and functional findings of a rhesus macaque suffering from a naturally occurring bilateral macular dystrophy (BMD), partial optic atrophy and corresponding reduction of central V1 signals in visual fMRI experiments when compared to data in a healthy macaque (CTRL) of similar age. Methods Retinal imaging included infrared and autofluorescence recordings, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) on the Spectralis HRA + OCT platform. Electroretinography included multifocal and Ganzfeld-ERG recordings. Animals were killed and eyes analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results Angiography showed reduced macular vascularization with significantly larger foveal avascular zones (FAZ) in the affected animal (FAZBMD = 8.85 mm2 vs. FAZCTRL = 0.32 mm2). OCT showed bilateral thinning of the macula within the FAZ (total retinal thickness, TRTBMD = 174 ± 9 µm) and partial optic nerve atrophy when compared to control (TRTCTRL = 303 ± 45 µm). Segmentation analysis revealed that inner retinal layers were primarily affected (inner retinal thickness, IRTBMD = 33 ± 9 µm vs. IRTCTRL = 143 ± 45 µm), while the outer retina essentially maintained its thickness (ORTBMD = 141 ± 7 µm vs. ORTCTRL = 160 ± 11 µm). Altered macular morphology corresponded to a preferential reduction of central signals in the multifocal electroretinography and to a specific attenuation of cone-derived responses in the Ganzfeld electroretinography, while rod function remained normal. Conclusion We provided detailed characterization of a primate macular disorder. This study aims to stimulate awareness and further investigation in primates with macular disorders eventually leading to the identification of a primate animal model and facilitating the preclinical development of therapeutic strategies. |
|
|
|
Language
|
|
|
|
English
|
|
|
Source (journal)
|
|
|
|
Documenta ophthalmologica : the journal of clinical electrophysiology of vision / International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision. - 's-Gravenhage, 1938, currens
|
|
|
Publication
|
|
|
|
's-Gravenhage
:
2012
|
|
|
ISSN
|
|
|
|
0012-4486
[print]
1573-2622
[online]
|
|
|
DOI
|
|
|
|
10.1007/S10633-012-9340-3
|
|
|
Volume/pages
|
|
|
|
125
:3
(2012)
, p. 179-194
|
|
|
ISI
|
|
|
|
000310742000001
|
|
|
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
|
|
|
|
|
|