Laser induced photoreceptor damage and recovery in the high numerical aperture eye of the garter snake.
The garter snake provides a unique model for in-vivo imaging of photoreceptor damage induced by laser retinal exposure. Laser thermal/mechanical retinal injury induced alterations in photoreceptor structure and leukocyte cellular behavior. Photoreceptors turned white, lost mode structure, and swelled; leukocyte activity was observed in the vicinity of photoreceptor cells. Non-thermal alterations were identified with a bio-tag for oxidative stress. Mechanisms of photoreceptor recovery and replacement were observed and evaluated for active cytoskeletal systems by using an anti-actin tag that could detect the presence of active cytoskeletal systems resident in photoreceptors as well as other retinal systems.
Zwick
H
H
USAMRD, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Brooks City Base, TX, USA. harry.zwick@brooks.af.mil
Edsall
P
P
Stuck
B E
BE
Wood
E
E
Elliott
R
R
Cheramie
R
R
Hacker
H
H
D000818:Animals; D017812:Colubridae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000293:injuries; D013045:Species Specificity