Abstract
Purpose :
Fibrosis is a glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) problem that often demands reoperation. At present, different antifibrotic drugs are used to inhibit fibrosis with unsatisfactory results. Only a few GFS mouse models for drug research exist. These are difficult to perform and complicated by the big murine lens, which can easily be damaged while penetrating the anterior chamber. We designed the first GFS mouse model without anterior chamber penetration, leaving the lens safely untouched.
Methods :
Baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured under inhalation anesthesia. Then, surgery was performed in six C57BL/6J mice under general anesthesia. A 27G needle was inserted into the conjunctiva and slid forward subconjunctivally close to the limbus. The sclera was penetrated, and a fistula was created between the posterior chamber and subconjunctival space. Afterwards, clinical examination and IOP-measurement under inhalation anesthesia followed every two days for two weeks.
Results :
Postoperatively, a filtering bleb was seen in every mouse (n=6). Mean IOP decreased from 14.2 mmHg (±3.0 SD) at baseline to 8.33 mmHg (±0.9) on day two after surgery. The conjunctiva was elevated until day two in every mouse. Between days four and eight, pigment and stronger conjunctival injection were seen at the fistula, as well as a significant IOP rise. From day eight onwards, IOP stayed at baseline values; the GFS bleb was flat again.
Mean IOP values (±SD) during follow-ups were: 11.5 mmHg (± 3.7) at day 4, 13.0 mmHg (±2.7) at day 6, 9.6 mmHg (±2.0) at day 8, 13.2 mmHg (±1.2) at day 10, 14.4 mmHg (±0.2) at day 12, and 15.2 mmHg (±2.8) at day 14. No infectious complications were seen.
Conclusions :
We developed a new, inexpensive, easy to perform, reproducible GFS mouse model, which can be used for fibrosis research or antifibrotic drug screening in vivo. It works without penetration of the anterior chamber, leaving the large murine lens untouched and thereby minimizing complications.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.