Abstract
Purpose :
The study compares PVR in mice versus rabbits as models to advance therapeutic development targeting PVR which can cause rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repairs to fail.
Methods :
The mouse PVR model was induced by the intravitreal (IVT) injection of a spontaneously arising retinal pigment epithelia - 19 (ARPC-19) cell line. The rabbit PVR model was induced by IVT of rabbit conjunctival fibroblast cells. Twelve female C57BL/6 mice, eight male and eight female New Zealand red pigmented rabbits were utilized in the study. Only one eye per animal was induced the PVR model for 28 days. The following were performed on all animals: clinical observation and moribundity/mortality daily; body weights pre-study and pre-sacrifice; ocular examinations and PVR gradings pre-study, weekly, and pre-sacrifice; fundus photography (FP), electroretinography (ERG), Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) pre-study and pre-sacrifice. At termination, all animals were euthanized and both eyes were enucleated and fixed in 10% Formalin for histopathological evaluation.
Results :
On Day 28, PVR gradings between mice and rabbits were similar, PVR scores reached stages 4 or 5. FP in the mouse PVR model indicated fibrous membrane in vitreous body and FP in the rabbit PVR model showed cloudy in vitreous body. ERG in the mouse PVR model indicated weak responses and ERG in the rabbit PVR model showed no response. SD-OCT in the mouse PVR model indicated fibrous membrane in vitreous body and in the front of retina and SD-OCT in the rabbit PVR model showed no scanned images. Histopathological findings indicated both PVR models had mild to severe PVR in the vitreous body and retinal detachment.
Conclusions :
The mouse or rabbit PVR model provides a stable, effective and reliable method for testing new treatment for patients with PVR. The mouse PVR model, due to closed to PVR in patients, would be recommended over the rabbit PVR model for testing.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.