April 2014
Volume 55, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2014
Investigating the influence of blast on cellularity in the retinal ganglion cell layer in a mouse model of blast-induced traumatic brain injury using a novel semi-automated technique
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Adam Hedberg-Buenz
    Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, Iowa City, IA
    Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • Matthew M. Harper
    Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, Iowa City, IA
    Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • Mark Christopher
    Biomedical Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
    Wynn Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • Laura Dutca
    Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, Iowa City, IA
  • Todd Scheetz
    Biomedical Engineering, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
    Wynn Institute for Vision Research, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • Randy H Kardon
    Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, Iowa City, IA
    Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • Michael G Anderson
    Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System, Iowa City, IA
    Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships Adam Hedberg-Buenz, None; Matthew Harper, None; Mark Christopher, None; Laura Dutca, None; Todd Scheetz, None; Randy Kardon, None; Michael Anderson, None
  • Footnotes
    Support None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2014, Vol.55, 1737. doi:
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      Adam Hedberg-Buenz, Matthew M. Harper, Mark Christopher, Laura Dutca, Todd Scheetz, Randy H Kardon, Michael G Anderson; Investigating the influence of blast on cellularity in the retinal ganglion cell layer in a mouse model of blast-induced traumatic brain injury using a novel semi-automated technique. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014;55(13):1737.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: Blast-mediated injuries are the leading cause of combat-related injury in modern warfare. Visual dysfunction has been reported in Veterans with blast-mediated traumatic brain injury (TBI). We have previously shown retinal ganglion cells (RGC) are exquisitely sensitive to blast exposure. However, the magnitude of RGC loss in blast-mediated injury is not yet understood. The purpose of these experiments is to develop a method to quantify cellularity and investigate the influence of blast on the retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL) after blast-induced TBI.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were exposed to an overpressure wave (20 PSI) directed to the head using a custom-built blast chamber (blast-injured). Mice placed in the chamber without blast were used as controls (sham control). At 4 months post-blast, retinas from both blast-injured (n=16) and sham control (n =12) eyes were mounted whole, stained, and imaged by light microscopy. Images were uniformly collected across the retina with equal sampling from the central and peripheral retina. Images were quantitatively assessed for cellularity in the GCL using custom-written macros in Image J.

Results: Retinas from both blast-injured and sham control mice had greater cell densities in the central compared to peripheral retina. In the peripheral retina, blast-injured mice exhibited a significant decrease (p = 0.03) in cell density compared to controls using a Students t-test. In the central retina, blast-injured mice exhibited a trend of reduced cell density compared to controls (not significant). Together, these results indicate exposure to blast causes cellular loss in the GCL in this model. Additionally, this novel semi-automated technique is able to detect subtle changes in cell density.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate that this mouse model of blast-induced TBI recapitulates the neuronal loss in the GCL that contributes to visual dysfunction in humans with TBI. This semi-automated technique provides a useful method to quantitatively assess cellularity in the GCL. Extending our knowledge of RGC susceptibility and mechanistic responses that influence their fate following blast-injury will help in the development of improved clinical testing and treatment of visual deficits to those suffering from TBI.

Keywords: 688 retina • 531 ganglion cells • 551 imaging/image analysis: non-clinical  
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