Abstract
Purpose: :
Oxidation damage and inflammation are postulated to be involved in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The purpose of this study was to observe the inflammatory process in the interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM) in our mouse model for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: :
Mice were immunized with CEP/MSA in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) or CFA alone at day 0, followed by challenge at day 10 in incomplete Freund’s adjuvant.To generate a strong immunological response, a second boost was given 10 day before the mice were sacrificed. Following enucleation, eyes were place in OCT embedding media. Cryosections 7µ in thickness were prepared on a Cryostat HM 505E, and immunohistochemistry was performed using the following inflammatory markers: F4/80, Cd11b and NIMP.
Results: :
Cd11b and F4/80 positive cells were observed in the choroid, as well as the limbal region in most of the secions studied. Cells that labeled with these were present in regions of lesions in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and also in other areas not associated with RPE lesions.
Conclusions: :
Macrophage invasion of the interphotoreceptor matrix, as evidenced by these inflammatory markers, is associated with the changes observed, including the presence of lesions, swelling of individual or several adjacent cells, cell lysis, pyknosis and the presence of monocytes in the interphotoreceptor matrix. RPE expanses with continuous swelling that appeared to be undergoing lysis were also common.
Keywords: retina • retinal pigment epithelium • age-related macular degeneration