Glaucoma-inducing Procedure in an In Vivo Rat Model and Whole-mount Retina Preparation

Summary

Glaucoma is characterized by damage to retinal ganglion cells. Inducing glaucoma in animal models can provide insight into the study of this disease. Here, we outline a procedure that induces loss of RGCs in an in vivo rat model and demonstrates the preparation of whole-mount retinas for analysis.

Abstract

Glaucoma is a disease of the central nervous system affecting retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). RGC axons making up the optic nerve carry visual input to the brain for visual perception. Damage to RGCs and their axons leads to vision loss and/or blindness. Although the specific cause of glaucoma is unknown, the primary risk factor for the disease is an elevated intraocular pressure. Glaucoma-inducing procedures in animal models are a valuable tool to researchers studying the mechanism of RGC death. Such information can lead to the development of effective neuroprotective treatments that could aid in the prevention of vision loss. The protocol in this paper describes a method of inducing glaucoma - like conditions in an in vivo rat model where 50 µl of 2 M hypertonic saline is injected into the episcleral venous plexus. Blanching of the vessels indicates successful injection. This procedure causes loss of RGCs to simulate glaucoma. One month following injection, animals are sacrificed and eyes are removed. Next, the cornea, lens, and vitreous are removed to make an eyecup. The retina is then peeled from the back of the eye and pinned onto sylgard dishes using cactus needles. At this point, neurons in the retina can be stained for analysis. Results from this lab show that approximately 25% of RGCs are lost within one month of the procedure when compared to internal controls. This procedure allows for quantitative analysis of retinal ganglion cell death in an in vivo rat glaucoma model.

Introduction

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases affecting neurons in the retina, specifically, the retinal ganglion cells^1-2. The axons of these cells converge to become the optic nerve carrying visual information to the brain where vision is perceived. Damage to RGCs and their axons therefore causes visual defects.

The primary characteristics associated with glaucoma disorders are RGC degeneration and death, increased intraocular pressure (IOP), and optic disk cupping and atrophy. These features lead to visual field loss or complete, irreversible blindness. Currently, glaucoma has caused blindness in 70 million people worldwide ³....

Protocol

All procedures using animal subjects have been in accordance with the standards of the Institute of Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Western Michigan University.

1. Animals

1. Use male and female rats 3 months of age in this study.
2. Keep animals in a 12 hr light/dark cycle with free access to food and water.

2. Preparation of KAX Cocktail for Animal Anesthesia

1. Dissolve 50 mg of xylazine (20 mg/ml) in 5 ml ketamine (100 mg/ml) with 1 ml acepromazine (10 mg/ml) and 3 ml of distilled water. Mix thoroughly.
2. Sterilize with a syringe filter and store this solution ....

Results

This section illustrates the apparatus components and procedure used to induce glaucoma-like conditions in an in vivo rat glaucoma model. We show the individual tools and equipment used to perform a hypertonic saline injection which causes an increase in intraocular pressure. We show the injection into the episcleral venous plexus with its characteristic blanching effect and the cloudy appearance of the anterior chamber that results. We also describe the process of retina removal.......

Discussion

This protocol describes a method of inducing glaucoma-like conditions in an in vivo rat model. This procedure uses an injection of hypertonic saline to induce scarring in the trabecular meshwork ^{29, 32}. Developing scar tissue occludes the outflow of aqueous humor which increases pressure in the anterior chamber. With decreased outflow and pressure build up, the lens suspended by elastic ligaments pushes back into the vitreous chamber. Vitreous humor then applies pressure onto the retina damaging the f.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Xylazine hydrochloride, Minimum 99%	Sigma, Life Science	X1251-1G
Ketamine hydrochloride injection, USP, 100mg/ml	Putney, Inc	NDC 26637-411-01	10 ml bottle
Acepromazine Maleate, 10mg/ml	Phoenix Pharmaceutical, Inc	NDC 57319-447-04, 670008L-03-0408	50 ml bottle
Serum bottle, 10 ml	VWR	16171319	Borosilicate glass
1 ml insulin syringe	VWR	BD329410	28 G needle
Sodium chloride	Sigma	S7653	2 M Solution
Microelectrode Puller	Narishige Group	PP-830
Heavy Polished Standard and Thin Walled Borosilicate Tubing	Sutter Instruments	B150-86-10HP	without filament, 0.86 mm
Microfil syringe needle for filling micropipettes	World Precision Instruments, Inc	MF28G
18 gauge Luer-Lock needle	Fisher Scientific	1130421	Syringe needle
Flexible Polyethylene Tubing	Fisher Scientific	22046941	0.034 inch diameter, approximately 10 inches
Proparacaine Hydrochloride Opthalmic Solution, USP, 0.5%	Akorn, Inc	NDC 17478-263-12	15 ml  sterile bottle
Curved Scissors	Fine Science Tools	14061-11
Microscope	Leica	StereoZoom 4
Hemostat Clamp	Fine Science Tools	1310912	curved edge
Triple Antibiotic Ointment	Fisher Scientific	NC0664481
Scalpel handle	Fine Science Tools	10004-13
Scalpel blade #11	Fine Science Tools	10011-00
60 mm x 15 mm Disposable Petri Dish	VWR	351007
Phosphate Buffered Saline 10x Concentrate	Sigma, Life Science	P7059-1L	1x dilution
Spring Scissors	Fine Science Tools	15009-08
Forceps (2), Dumont # 5	Fine Science Tools	11251-30
3 ml Transfer Pipets, polyethylene, non sterile	BD Biosciences	357524 or 52947-948	1 and 2 ml graduations
35 mm x 10 mm Easy Grip Petri Dish	BD Biosciences	351008
Sylgard 184	VWR	102092-312
Cactus Needles
Paraformaldehyde	EMD Millipore	PX0055-3 or 818715.0100	Made into a 4% solution
Triton X-100	Sigma	T9284-100 ml	Made into both a 1% and 0.1% solution
Fetal Bovine Serum	Atlanta Biological	S11150	500 ml
Purified Mouse Anti-Rat CD90/mouse CD90.1	BD Pharmingen	Cat 554892	1:300 dilution
Alexa Fluor 594 goat anti-mouse	Life Technologies	A11005	1:300 dilution
Microscope Slides	Corning	2948-75x25
Glycerol	Sigma	G5516-100 ml	50% glycerol to 50% PBS, by weight
Coverglass	Corning	2975-225	Thickness 1 22 x 50 mm
Confocal Microscope	Nikon	C2 Eclipse Ti