0000000000711214
AUTHOR
P. F. Gottschling
Autoreactive Antibodies and Loss of Retinal Ganglion Cells in Rats Induced by Immunization with Ocular Antigens
PURPOSE In an experimental autoimmune animal model, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss was induced through immunization with glaucoma-related antigens. The target of this study was to investigate the pathomechanism behind this decline and the serum antibody reactivity against ocular and neuronal tissues after immunization with glaucoma- and non-glaucoma-associated antigens. METHODS Rats immunized with optic nerve antigen homogenate (ONA) or keratin (KER) were compared to control rats (CO). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured, and the fundi were examined regularly. Four weeks afterward, cells were counted in retinal flat mounts. Retina, optic nerve, and brain sections from healthy animals …
Repeated intraocular pressure measurement in awake Lewis rats does not bias retinal ganglion cell survival.
The TonoPen applanation tonometry is an established method for intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement. The IOP is one of the main variables affecting retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss in experimental animal models in ophthalmology and the main risk factor for human glaucoma. In this study, we examined if IOP measurements with the TonoPen itself lead to retinal ganglion cell loss or any other possible retina damages, such as intraocular bleedings or ablation, in Lewis rats.Three groups of rats (n = 5 each) were formed. IOP monitoring, using a TonoPen XL, was performed on groups 1 and 3. Animals in groups 1 and 2 received funduscopies before and after one and two weeks of the study, in order t…