Microbead-induced ocular hypertensive mouse model for screening and testing of aqueous production suppressants for Glaucoma

Qiang Yang, Kin Sang Cho, Huihui Chen, Dekuang Yu, Wan Heng Wang, Gang Luo, Iok Hou Pang, Wenyi Guo, Dong Feng Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE. To characterize the microbead-induced ocular hypertension (OHT) mouse model and investigate its potential use for preclinical screening and evaluation of ocular hypotensive agents, we tested the model's responses to major antiglaucoma drugs. METHODS. Adult C57BL/6J mice were induced to develop OHT unilaterally by intracameral injection of microbeads. The effects of the most commonly used ocular hypotensive drugs, including timolol, brimonidine, brinzolamide, pilocarpine, and latanoprost, on IOP and glaucomatous neural damage were evaluated. Degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and optic nerve axons were quantitatively assessed using immunofluorescence labeling and histochemistry. Thickness of the ganglion cell complex (GCC) was also assessed with spectraldomain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). RESULTS. A microbead-induced OHT model promptly responded to drugs, such as timolol, brimonidine, and brinzolamide, that lower IOP through suppressing aqueous humor production and showed improved RGC and axon survival as compared to vehicle controls. Accordingly, SD-OCT detected significantly less reduction of GCC thickness in mice treated with all three aqueous production suppressants as compared to the vehicle contol-treated group. In contrast, drugs that increase aqueous outflow, such as pilocarpine and latanoprost, failed to decrease IOP in the microbead-induced OHT mice. CONCLUSIONS. Microbead-induced OHT mice carry dysfunctional aqueous outflow facility and therefore offer a unique model that allows selective screening of aqueous production suppressant antiglaucoma drugs or for studying the mechanisms regulating aqueous humor production. Our data set the stage for using GCC thickness assessed by SD-OCT as an imaging biomarker for noninvasive tracking of neuronal benefits of glaucoma therapy in this model.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3733-3741
Number of pages9
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume53
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2012

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