Genetic animal models for retinal degeneration.
Inherited retinal degenerations are a common cause of blindness in Western countries. A mechanism for most retinal degenerations is still unknown; hence, a suitable treatment for most of these diseases has yet to be found. Before one can rationally design a treatment, it is necessary to understand the pathway from a gene mutation to the phenotype in patients. Animal models are crucial to understand this process and to develop a treatment. Some naturally occurring animal models are known. However, over the past few years, transgenic engineering has allowed the generation of a rapidly growing number of animal models. In this review, we give an overview of the broad variety of genetic animal models for retinal degeneration.
Fauser
Sascha
S
Universitäts-Augenklinik, Tübingen, Germany. sfauser@hgmp.mrc.ac.uk
Luberichs
Janina
J
Schüttauf
Frank
F
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics; D023421:Models, Animal; D009154:Mutation; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000235:genetics*