Abstract
Purpose :
We have previously shown that inner retinal capillary plexi (RCPs) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) display age-related phenotypes. In this project, we aim to better understand the anatomic and physiologic deficits that occur in similarly aged mice as a part of normal aging.
Methods :
All experiments were conducted using aged (85 weeks) c57BL/6J mice while young (16 weeks) mice served as controls. We used ocular coherence tomography (OCT) and H&E staining to assess gross retinal anatomy. In another set of retinas, we used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to analyze retinal microvasculature. Lastly, we performed electroretinograms (ERGs) to analyze retinal physiology.
Results :
OCT analysis showed that aged retinas have reduced inner retinal (retinal nerve fiber layer, inner plexiform layer and inner nuclear layer) and overall retinal thickness (*p≤0.05) compared to young retina controls. TEM analysis of aged retinas showed prominent dilatation of the vascular basement membrane in the superficial (***p≤0.001), intermediate (****p≤0.0001), and deep (***p≤0.001) RCP compared to young retinas. ERG assessment showed decreased amplitudes in the a-wave (***p≤0.001), b-wave (****p≤0.0001), and pSTR (***p≤0.001) which correspond to photoreceptor, bipolar cell, and RGC activity, respectively. Analysis of H&E sections is ongoing.
Conclusions :
These data suggest that, in addition to the previously described microvasculature changes seen in the RCPs, there may be additional disruptions to capillary basement membranes and neuronal function in the aged retina.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.