title: Histological and Electrophysiological Changes in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium after Injection of Sodium Iodate in the Orbital Venus Plexus of Pigmented Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize histopathologic and electroretinographic (ERG) changes in the retina of pigmented rats injected with sodium iodate in order to establish a model of retinal degeneration for future cell therapy studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 50 male pigmented rats weighing 250-300 grams, NaIO3 was injected into the left orbital venous plexus at 40 and 60 mg/kg doses (25 eyes in each group). Fourteen rats received phosphate buffered saline (PBS) injection in their left orbital plexus and were considered as the sham-control group. Histopathologic and ERG studies were performed at baseline and on days 1, 7, 14 and 28 after the injections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Progressive retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) changes were observed from the first day of injection in both the 40 and 60 mg/kg study groups in a dose dependent manner. These changes manifested as loss of melanin pigment and accumulation of lipofuscin in RPE cells with subsequent cell death and patchy loss of RPE cells (in flat mounts), as well as thinning of the outer nuclear layer and later the inner nuclear layer in the succeeding days. ERG showed a progressive and significant decrease in a- and b- wave amplitudes in both case groups relative to baseline values and the controls (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NaIO3 injection into the retrobulbar venous plexus of pigmented rats can result in significant and progressive damage to the RPE and subsequently to the neuroretina of the injected eye, and may serve as a model of retinal degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Aboutaleb
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kadkhodaeian
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Taki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tiraihi
authors.affiliation: Ocular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Narsis
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Daftarian
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmadieh
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ziaei
authors.affiliation: Shefa Neuroscience Research Center, Khatam-Al-Anbia Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Taher
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taheri
keywords: Pigmented Rat; Retinal Pigment Epithelium; Retro-orbital Sinus; Sodium Iodate