TY - JOUR
T1 - Blue autofluorescence fundus imaging for monitoring retinal degeneration in Royal college of surgeons rats
AU - Bubis, Ettel
AU - Sher, Ifat
AU - Skaat, Alon
AU - Sharvit-Ginon, Inbal
AU - Szalapak, Alicja M.
AU - Moroz, Iris
AU - Kalter-Leibovici, Ofra
AU - Rotenstreich, Ygal
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Authors.
PY - 2019/1
Y1 - 2019/1
N2 - Purpose: Development of a method for noninvasive longitudinal follow-up of retinal degeneration in the whole retina for Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats, a commonly used model of retinitis pigmentosa associated with mutations in the MER-proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (MERTK) gene. Methods: Pigmented RCS rats at postnatal (p) days p28 to p84 were subjected to a biweekly spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), blue laser fundus autofluorescence (BL-FAF) imaging, and multicolor fundus imaging. Wild-type (WT; Long Evans) rats were tested as control. Results: Hyperautofluorescence developed throughout the fundus at p42, concomitant with a significant increase in SD-OCT thickness and reflectivity of the debris zone (DZ) layer as well as thinning of the photoreceptor outer nuclear layer (ONL). From p56 to p84, discrete hypofluorescent lesions surrounded by hyperfluorescent flecks were demonstrated around the optic disc that gradually spread throughout the retina. The hypofluorescent lesions were associated with loss of ONL and gradual thinning of the DZ layer. No hypofluorescent BL-FAF lesions were observed in WT rats. Conclusions: This study suggests that BL-FAF imaging may present a new method for noninvasive longitudinal follow-up of retinal degeneration in nearly the whole retina in RCS rats. Translational Relevance: A clinical test was developed that may be implemented in translational studies in the RCS rat model of MERTK-associated retinitis pigmentosa.
AB - Purpose: Development of a method for noninvasive longitudinal follow-up of retinal degeneration in the whole retina for Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats, a commonly used model of retinitis pigmentosa associated with mutations in the MER-proto-oncogene tyrosine kinase (MERTK) gene. Methods: Pigmented RCS rats at postnatal (p) days p28 to p84 were subjected to a biweekly spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), blue laser fundus autofluorescence (BL-FAF) imaging, and multicolor fundus imaging. Wild-type (WT; Long Evans) rats were tested as control. Results: Hyperautofluorescence developed throughout the fundus at p42, concomitant with a significant increase in SD-OCT thickness and reflectivity of the debris zone (DZ) layer as well as thinning of the photoreceptor outer nuclear layer (ONL). From p56 to p84, discrete hypofluorescent lesions surrounded by hyperfluorescent flecks were demonstrated around the optic disc that gradually spread throughout the retina. The hypofluorescent lesions were associated with loss of ONL and gradual thinning of the DZ layer. No hypofluorescent BL-FAF lesions were observed in WT rats. Conclusions: This study suggests that BL-FAF imaging may present a new method for noninvasive longitudinal follow-up of retinal degeneration in nearly the whole retina in RCS rats. Translational Relevance: A clinical test was developed that may be implemented in translational studies in the RCS rat model of MERTK-associated retinitis pigmentosa.
KW - Blue autofluorescence fundus imaging
KW - Optical coherence tomography
KW - Retinal dystrophy
KW - Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068439151&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1167/tvst.8.1.26
DO - 10.1167/tvst.8.1.26
M3 - ???researchoutput.researchoutputtypes.contributiontojournal.article???
C2 - 30834174
AN - SCOPUS:85068439151
SN - 2164-2591
VL - 8
JO - Translational Vision Science and Technology
JF - Translational Vision Science and Technology
IS - 1
M1 - 26
ER -