USF-LVHN SELECT
Evaluation of Spatially Targeted Scleral Stiffening on Neuroprotection in a Rat Model of Glaucoma.
Publication/Presentation Date
5-2-2022
Abstract
PURPOSE: Scleral stiffening may protect against glaucomatous retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss or dysfunction associated with ocular hypertension. Here, we assess the potential neuroprotective effects of two treatments designed to stiffen either the entire posterior sclera or only the sclera adjacent to the peripapillary sclera in an experimental model of glaucoma.
METHODS: Rat sclerae were stiffened in vivo using either genipin (crosslinking the entire posterior sclera) or a regionally selective photosensitizer, methylene blue (stiffening only the juxtaperipapillary region surrounding the optic nerve). Ocular hypertension was induced using magnetic microbeads delivered to the anterior chamber. Morphological and functional outcomes, including optic nerve axon count and appearance, retinal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography, optomotor response, and electroretinography traces, were assessed.
RESULTS: Both local (juxtaperipapillary) and global (whole posterior) scleral stiffening treatments were successful at increasing scleral stiffness, but neither provided demonstrable neuroprotection in hypertensive eyes as assessed by RGC axon counts and appearance, optomotor response, or electroretinography. There was a weak indication that scleral crosslinking protected against retinal thinning as assessed by optical coherence tomography.
CONCLUSIONS: Scleral stiffening was not demonstrated to be neuroprotective in ocular hypertensive rats. We hypothesize that the absence of benefit may in part be due to RGC loss associated with the scleral stiffening agents themselves (mild in the case of genipin, and moderate in the case of methylene blue), negating any potential benefit of scleral stiffening.
TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The development of scleral stiffening as a neuroprotective treatment will require the identification of better tolerated stiffening protocols and further preclinical testing.
Volume
11
Issue
5
First Page
7
Last Page
7
ISSN
2164-2591
Published In/Presented At
Gerberich, B. G., Hannon, B. G., Brown, D. M., Read, A. T., Ritch, M. D., Schrader Echeverri, E., Nichols, L., Potnis, C., Sridhar, S., Toothman, M. G., Schwaner, S. A., Winger, E. J., Huang, H., Gershon, G. S., Feola, A. J., Pardue, M. T., Prausnitz, M. R., & Ethier, C. R. (2022). Evaluation of Spatially Targeted Scleral Stiffening on Neuroprotection in a Rat Model of Glaucoma. Translational vision science & technology, 11(5), 7. https://doi.org/10.1167/tvst.11.5.7
Disciplines
Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
35536721
Department(s)
USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Students
Document Type
Article