Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To assess structural changes in animal models of hereditary retinal dystrophies in vivo with scanning–laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and angiography. Methods: A SLO (Heidelberg Engineering HRA) was used to investigate disease–related pathology in animal models featuring changes to the retina, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and the vascular systems. In each model, native images with infrared (IR, 830 nm) and green (514 nm) lasers as well as autofluorescence (488 nm) were recorded. Angiographic investigations included fluoresceine and indocyanine green (ICG) injections and stimulation at 488 and 795 nm, respectively. Results: Animal models of hereditary retinal dystrophies do show a variety of structural changes affecting the retina itself, the RPE, and the vascular systems. The changes found ranged from developmental delay with persistence of early postnatal structures at postnatal day P14 to late degenerative changes appearing at 9–12 months of age. The achievable resolution allowed to identify single cells in the retina, RPE, and vascular systems. Fluoresceine and ICG angiography permitted to detect distribution, leakage, and malformations of vessels, and to attribute such vascular abnormalities to either the retinal or the choroidal circulation. Conclusions: The SLO is a very powerful tool for the detection and follow–up of structural changes in animal models in vivo. The combination of five examination modes used here (three native, two angiographic modes) provides a unique insight in the processes associated with degeneration and regeneration in vivo.
Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • transgenics/knock–outs • retinal degenerations: cell biology