Effects of age and long-term caloric restriction on the aqueous collecting channel in the mouse eye.
OBJECTIVE
The mouse aqueous collecting channel, part of the mouse aqueous outflow pathway, was measured using a computer-assisted image analysis system. We used ad libitum-fed and calorie-restricted mice to investigate the effects of age and long-term caloric restriction on the lumen size of the channel.


RESULTS
The ad libitum-fed mice showed a significant age-related reduction in the lumen area. In the ad libitum-fed group, the lumen area of the channel decreased by 30% at 30-35 months of age (p < 0.01), and the anteroposterior width declined by 21% (p < 0.001) as compared with mice 3-5 months of age. The calorie-restricted mice did not display any reduction with age in the lumen area or the anteroposterior width of the channel. When compared with the age-matched calorie-restricted mice, the lumen area of the channel of the ad libitum-fed mice measured less by 34%, and anteroposterior width less by 21% at 30-35 months of age (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that an age-related morphological alteration in the mouse aqueous collecting channel occurred and that it is delayed by long-term caloric restriction. This suggests a possible role of life-long caloric restriction in reducing glaucomatous damages and perhaps delaying glaucoma development.
Li
Y
Y
Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195-7470, USA.
Wolf
N S
NS
D000375:Aging; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D002149:Energy Intake; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013997:Time Factors; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000473:pathology*