Experimental glaucoma induced by ocular injection of magnetic microspheres.
Progress in understanding the pathophysiology, and providing novel treatments for glaucoma is dependent on good animal models of the disease. We present here a protocol for elevating intraocular pressure (IOP) in the rat, by injecting magnetic microspheres into the anterior chamber of the eye. The use of magnetic particles allows the user to manipulate the beads into the iridocorneal angle, thus providing a very effective blockade of fluid outflow from the trabecular meshwork. This leads to long-lasting IOP rises, and eventually neuronal death in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) as well as optic nerve pathology, as seen in patients with the disease. This method is simple to perform, as it does not require machinery, specialist surgical skills, or many hours of practice to perfect. Furthermore, the pressure elevations are very robust, and reinjection of the magnetic microspheres is not usually required unlike in some other models using plastic beads. Additionally, we believe this method is suitable for adaptation for the mouse eye.
Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology.
Shannon
S
Bunker
Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology.
Joanna
J
Holeniewska
University College London Institue of Ophthalmology.
Sauparnika
S
Vijay
University College London Institue of Ophthalmology; Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Annegret
A
Dahlmann-Noor
University College London Institue of Ophthalmology; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Peng
P
Khaw
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School.
Yin-Shan
YS
Ng
Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology; Hoffman-La Roche.
David
D
Shima
Ocular Biology and Therapeutics, University College London Institute of Ophthalmology; richard.foxton@ucl.ac.uk.
Richard
R
Foxton
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008280:Magnetics; D051379:Mice; D008863:Microspheres; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular