June 2021
Volume 62, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2021
Age-Related Ocular Changes in the RPE of C57/BL6J Mice
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Vivian Summers
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Salma Ferdous
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Kristie Liao
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Kevin Donaldson
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Isabelle Gefke
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Yong-Kyu Kim
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Debresha Shelton
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Jana T Sellers
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Shanu Markand
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Jeffrey H Boatright
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
    Atlanta VA Center for Visual & Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Decatur, Georgia, United States
  • John M Nickerson
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Vivian Summers, None; Salma Ferdous, None; Kristie Liao, None; Kevin Donaldson, None; Isabelle Gefke, None; Yong-Kyu Kim, None; Debresha Shelton, None; Jana Sellers, None; Shanu Markand, None; Jeffrey Boatright, None; John Nickerson, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  The lack of statistical difference in c-wave data between groups 1 through 3 would be indicative that the RPE visual function does not change with age. While we don’t see an increase in the total number of IBA-1 positive cells with age, we do see an increase in the number of IBA-1 positive cells with age in the outer zones of the flatmount. This could be indicative of where these cells where damage is occurring. The change in the outermost zones could be indicative of where the RPE begins to break down first with age. The cytosolic alpha-catenin increased between groups 1 and 4, and groups 3 and 4. Alpha catenin in the cytosol could be attributed to the breakdown of RPE-cell borders with age. Total number of nuclei in RPE cells, and RPE morphometrics show cells remain relatively unchanged with age.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2021, Vol.62, 2977. doi:
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      Vivian Summers, Salma Ferdous, Kristie Liao, Kevin Donaldson, Isabelle Gefke, Yong-Kyu Kim, Debresha Shelton, Jana T Sellers, Shanu Markand, Jeffrey H Boatright, John M Nickerson; Age-Related Ocular Changes in the RPE of C57/BL6J Mice. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2021;62(8):2977.

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

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Abstract

Purpose : Age is usually examined in a young versus old group in research. We looked at the gradual changes of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) over time in wild type C57/BL6J mice to examine when changes take place. The goal of this is to expand upon established knowledge of aging effects on the RPE.

Methods : We looked at both male and female wildtype C57/BL6J mice. They were split up into four groups: G1 (<0.5 years), G2 (1.0 – 1.5 years), G3 (1.5 – 2.0 years), G4 (>2.0 years). We used electroretinogram (ERG) to collect c-wave data which looks at the visual function of the RPE. We also hand counted the number of Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1(IBA-1) in concentric circles that divided the flatmount into five zones. Imaris was used to determine the amount of alpha catenin within cells to be used as an indicator of change across the groups. We looked at the number of total nuclei across groups. All results were analyzed by using one or two-way ANOVAs with Tukey’s posthoc test, n’s were between 3-10.

Results : The data that we have analyzed show that there is an increase in the number of IBA-1 cells between groups 1 and 4 in the two outermost zones. There was also an increase in the number of IBA-1 cells across all groups from our most central zones to our most outer zones. There were no significant increases in the total number of IBA-1 positive cells across groups. Cytosolic alpha-catenin increased between groups 1 and 4, and groups 3 and 4. Total number of nuclei in RPE cells, and RPE morphometrics, and c-wave data were not significantly different.

Conclusions : The lack of statistical difference in c-wave data between groups 1 through 3 would be indicative that the RPE visual function does not change with age. While we don’t see an increase in the total number of IBA-1 positive cells with age, we do see an increase in the number of IBA-1 positive cells with age in the outer zones of the flatmount. This could be indicative of where these cells where damage is occurring. The change in the outermost zones could be indicative of where the RPE begins to break down first with age. The cytosolic alpha-catenin increased between groups 1 and 4, and groups 3 and 4. Alpha catenin in the cytosol could be attributed to the breakdown of RPE-cell borders with age. Total number of nuclei in RPE cells, and RPE morphometrics show cells remain relatively unchanged with age.

This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.

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