Mouse models of age-related macular degeneration
P Elizabeth Rakoczy1, Meaghan J T Yu, Steven Nusinowitz
1Lions Eye Institute, Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Department of Molecular Opthalmology, The University of Western Australia, 2 Verdun Street, Nedland Western Australia 6009, Australia. rakoczy@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Abstract:
Recent advances in genetic technologies have greatly accelerated our ability to find disease-related genes and to generate animal models. The availability of ocular tissues with known genetic diseases are greatly contributing to our understanding of retinal disease processes including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and panretinal and cone degenerations. While the macula is a highly specialised area of the retina not present in many mammals, the use of animal models such as mouse strains will give basic physiology and visual processing genetics relevant to human AMD. This review aims to provide a framework for better understanding some of the existing animal models and the knowledge that has been derived from their evaluations.
