Abstract
Purpose :
To induce chronic intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in mice with the technique previously developed for use in rats.
Methods :
Unilateral circumlimbal suture (10/0, nylon) was placed in the sub-conjunctiva around the limbus (~1 mm behind limbus) in male C57BL/6J mice (n = 5) under anesthesia (ketamine/xylazine). Four anchor points were achieved around the limbus and puncture/compression of the main drainage veins was avoided during the suture process by tunneling underneath those vessels. The fellow untreated eye served as a within animal control. IOP was measured pre- and post-suture implantation (every 3 days) for 8 weeks (mean ± SEM).
Results :
Baseline IOP was similar between the two eyes (sutured eyes 13.2 ± 0.4 mmHg vs control eyes 13.8 ± 0.4 mmHg). IOP in the sutured eyes was significantly elevated compared to control eyes (Week 1: 28 ± 0.9 mmHg vs 13 ± 0.3 mmHg; ANOVA: p < 0.001). Immediately after suture implantation, an initial IOP spike was found (56.6 ± 2.6 mmHg) which gradually declined to 35.2 ± 1.1 mmHg at Day 1. At the end of 8 weeks, IOP in the sutured eyes remained elevated (21.4 ± 0.6 mmHg) compared to fellow control eyes (13.2 ± 0.4 mmHg).
Conclusions :
A chronic mild IOP elevation could be induced in mice using circumlimbal suture technique previously developed and optimized for rats. The IOP profile was similar to that reported in rats. This mice model will be useful for studying controllable, predictable, chronic, ocular hypertension.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.